Comments on: It’s not a “space”, it’s a “market”

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:27:28 +0000

@Cami: Ta for the tip. I can certainly use some lighter reading.

By: Cami`

Cami` — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:46:59 +0000

Mr. Stilgherrian, If you are looking for a short easy read any time, I recommend Lapham rising. Seems to be in line with your type of humor. I’m sure you can find it at your local book ’space’.

cheers

By: Stilgherrian · Stupid uses of “solution”

Stilgherrian · Stupid uses of “solution” — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:14:56 +0000

[...] “DNA” (when used to talk about “our business’ DNA”), “space“. Any [...]

By: Snarky Platypus

Snarky Platypus — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:43:32 +0000

Instead of “space”, they should use “galaxy”. Similar theme, but the mental image of stars going around a super-massive black hole that sucks in things is actually quite appropriate when talking about consumers and products…

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:45:11 +0000

@Fiona: I don’t subscribe to “purity” of language, and I doubt that any linguists would these days. Languages evolve constantly, and I agree there are certainly regional, social and even personal variations.

However we’ll have to agree to disagree about this example, because I do believe this “space” thing is sloppy usage. The word “space” has many technical meanings as well as the everyday one, and the existence of those infuses the everyday with flavours of meaning which are important part of the communications process.

This management-jargon usage of “space” pretty much ignores all that. It’s about trying to sound technical and precise when there isn’t actually any precision. Especially when it’s in a sentence with “about”, e.g. “We’re doing a lot of work about the security space.”

In every case I’ve heard it used, it was to add a veneer of precision to a statement which was actually devoid of concrete detail.

If a salesperson needs to “spice up” their communication by using inappropriate words for the sake of “variety”, then they’ve either got a crap product to sell or they’re a poor salesperson incapable of communicating the benefits of their product. Either is bad, I reckon.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:44:01 +0000

“Sloppy use of language usually implies there’s sloppy thinking behind it.”

Mr Stilgherrian, it is merely a DIFFERENT use of language - not a sloppy one. Not everyone is going to use language in its purest form all the time. There’s nothing wrong with mixing & matching terms occasionally, it adds to the variety of things and can spice up communication. think of salespeople…

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:25:26 +0000

@Fiona: I don’t think it’s trivial, actually. It bothers me for two reasons.

Language is how we communicate our thoughts. Sloppy use of language usually implies there’s sloppy thinking behind it. Perhaps I’m more conscious of this because I’ve been a professional communicator for so long — it’s like watching someone take a fine car like a Ferrari and grinding the gearbox ‘cos they don’t know what they’re doing.
Particularly in the corporate world, mindlessly parroting the latest management buzzword means the person using it is just branding themselves as a “me too” kinda person — well, that’s their problem, not mine, but I reckon people ought to be aware they’re doing it

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:56:35 +0000

look, get over it pal. so what if ppl want to use the word space instead of market. who cares?? why do u let trivial things like that bother you?