JARGON BUSTING: UPTIGHT REAL TIME AUTHOR COMPLAINT EVENT
October 7th 2009 06:12
JARGON BUSTING: UPTIGHT COMPLAINT EVENT ISSUED BY AUSTRALIAN STORY TELLER IN REAL TIME
Australian author Don Watson launched his latest book on the decay of language, ‘Bendable Learnings’, in Sydney this week, according to newssite, Crikey.
During his launch speech he highlighted a quote from a joint media release from the Australian Prime Minster and the Minister for Education.
The quote was "These pilots will trial or expand initiatives that exemplify strategies to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for those students most in need of support..."
Watson asked why could they not have said, “We will teach children how to read and do arithmetic?"
Crikey reported that he asked why is it that nowhere in any Australian Education Department document is there any mention of the verb, "to teach" or "to learn" other than in the new word; "learnings"?
Crikey reported that “Watson is particularly cross about mission statements and vision statements,” and said that “management language” has spread to the most unlikely places and has "seeded itself" mainly through consultants.
Historians of the future will look back, if they are allowed to look back (if they are not "going forward") as a "significant language event."
The problem with this kind of language becomes obvious, he said, at times when clarity is needed. During the Royal Commission into the Victorian bushfires, held earlier this year, the heads of the Country Fire Authority were asked about the warnings they had issued on Black Saturday when 173 people died.
"The Country Fire Authority had sent management to management school and as a result, they were unable to issue warnings in a language that people could understand," he said. Instead they talked about "extreme weather events" instead of fires, and “safe neighbourhood places” instead of "refuges".
MediaBlab says that author Watson should note that the “wild fires” is now the new jargon for bush or forest fires.
Australian author Don Watson launched his latest book on the decay of language, ‘Bendable Learnings’, in Sydney this week, according to newssite, Crikey.
During his launch speech he highlighted a quote from a joint media release from the Australian Prime Minster and the Minister for Education.
The quote was "These pilots will trial or expand initiatives that exemplify strategies to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for those students most in need of support..."
Watson asked why could they not have said, “We will teach children how to read and do arithmetic?"
Crikey reported that “Watson is particularly cross about mission statements and vision statements,” and said that “management language” has spread to the most unlikely places and has "seeded itself" mainly through consultants.
Historians of the future will look back, if they are allowed to look back (if they are not "going forward") as a "significant language event."
The problem with this kind of language becomes obvious, he said, at times when clarity is needed. During the Royal Commission into the Victorian bushfires, held earlier this year, the heads of the Country Fire Authority were asked about the warnings they had issued on Black Saturday when 173 people died.
"The Country Fire Authority had sent management to management school and as a result, they were unable to issue warnings in a language that people could understand," he said. Instead they talked about "extreme weather events" instead of fires, and “safe neighbourhood places” instead of "refuges".
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