{"id":829,"date":"2015-03-07T17:31:08","date_gmt":"2015-03-07T17:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/businesscommunication\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=829"},"modified":"2015-03-09T16:16:43","modified_gmt":"2015-03-09T16:16:43","slug":"language-can-be-an-obstacle-to-communication","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/chapter\/language-can-be-an-obstacle-to-communication\/","title":{"raw":"Language Can be an Obstacle to Communication","rendered":"Language Can be an Obstacle to Communication"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVES<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_l01\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\r\n\t<li>Demonstrate six ways in which language can be an obstacle or barrier to communication.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain the differences between clich\u00e9s, jargon, and slang.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain the difference between sexist or racist language and legitimate references to gender or race in business communication.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2><\/h2>\r\nAs you use language to make sense of your experiences, as part of our discussion, you no doubt came to see that language and verbal communication can work both for you and against you. Language allows you to communicate, but it also allows you to miscommunicate and misunderstand. The same system we use to express our most intimate thoughts can be frustrating when it fails to capture our thoughts, to represent what we want to express, and to reach our audience. For all its faults, though, it is the best system we have, and part of improving the communication process is the clear identification of where it breaks down. Anticipate where a word or expression may need more clarification and you will be on your way to reducing errors and improving verbal communication.\r\n\r\nIn an article titled \u201cThe Miscommunication Gap,\u201d Susan Washburn lists several undesirable results of poor communication in business:<span id=\"fwk-mclean-fn02_017\" class=\"im_footnote\">Washburn, S. (2008, February). The miscommunication gap. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">ESI Horizons, 9<\/em>(2). Retrieved from <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.esi-intl.com\/public\/Library\/html\/200802HorizonsArticle1.asp?UnityID=8522516.1290\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.esi-intl.com\/public\/Library\/html\/200802HorizonsArticle1.asp?UnityID=8522516.1290<\/a><\/span>\r\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_l02\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Damaged relationships<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Loss of productivity<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Inefficiency and rework<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Conflict<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Missed opportunities<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Schedule slippage (delays, missed deadlines)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Scope creep\u2026or leap (gradual or sudden changes in an assignment that make it more complex and difficult than it was originally understood to be)<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wasted resources<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Unclear or unmet requirements<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this section we discuss how words can serve either as a bridge, or a barrier, to understanding and communication of meaning. Our goals of effective and efficient business communication mean an inherent value of words and terms that keeps the bridge clear and free of obstacles.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Clich\u00e9<\/h2>\r\nA <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">clich\u00e9<\/span><\/span> is a once-clever word or phrase that has lost its impact through overuse. If you spoke or wrote in clich\u00e9s, how would your audience react? Let\u2019s try it. How do you react when you read this sentence: \u201cA clich\u00e9 is something to avoid like the plague, for it is nothing but a tired old war horse, and if the shoe were on the other foot you too would have an axe to grind\u201d? As you can see, the problem with clich\u00e9s is that they often sound silly or boring.\r\n\r\nClich\u00e9s are sometimes a symptom of lazy communication\u2014the person using the clich\u00e9 hasn\u2019t bothered to search for original words to convey the intended meaning. Clich\u00e9s lose their impact because readers and listeners tend to gloss over them, assuming their common meaning while ignoring your specific use of them. As a result, they can be obstacles to successful communication.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Jargon<\/h2>\r\nLet\u2019s pretend you\u2019ve been assigned to the task of preparing a short presentation on your company\u2019s latest product for a group of potential customers. It\u2019s a big responsibility. You only have one opportunity to get it right. You will need to do extensive planning and preparation, and your effort, if done well, will produce a presentation that is smooth and confident, looking simple to the casual audience member.\r\n\r\nWhat words do you use to communicate information about your product? Is your audience familiar with your field and its specialized terms? As potential customers, they are probably somewhat knowledgeable in the field, but not to the extent that you and your coworkers are; even less so compared to the \u201ctechies\u201d who developed the product. For your presentation to succeed, your challenge is to walk a fine line between using too much profession-specific language on the one hand, and \u201ctalking down\u201d to your audience on the other hand.\r\n\r\nWhile your potential customers may not understand all the engineering and schematic detail terms involved in the product, they do know what they and their organizations are looking for in considering a purchase. Your solution may be to focus on common ground\u2014what you know of their past history in terms of contracting services or buying products from your company. What can you tell from their historical purchases? If your research shows that they place a high value on saving time, you can focus your presentation on the time-saving aspects of your new product and leave the technical terms to the user\u2019s manual.\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Jargon<\/span><\/span> is an occupation-specific language used by people in a given profession. Jargon does not necessarily imply formal education, but instead focuses on the language people in a profession use to communicate with each other. Members of the information technology department have a distinct group of terms that refer to common aspects in their field. Members of the marketing department, or advertising, or engineering, research, and development also have sets of terms they use within their professional community. Jargon exists in just about every occupation, independent of how much formal education is involved\u2014from medicine and law; to financial services, banking, and insurance; to animal husbandry, auto repair, and the construction trades.\r\n\r\nWhether or not to use jargon is often a judgment call, and one that is easier to make in speaking than in writing. In an oral context, we may be able to use a technical term and instantly know from feedback whether or not the receiver of the message \u201cgot it.\u201d If they didn\u2019t, we can define it on the spot. In written language, we lack that immediate response and must attend more to the context of receiver. The more we learn about our audience, the better we can tailor our chosen words. If we lack information or want our document to be understood by a variety of readers, it pays to use common words and avoid jargon.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Slang<\/h2>\r\nThink for a moment about the words and expressions you use when you communicate with your best friends. If a coworker was to hang out with you and your friends, would they understand all the words you use, the music you listen to, the stories you tell and the way you tell them? Probably not, because you and your friends probably use certain words and expressions in ways that have special meaning to you.\r\n\r\nThis special form of language, which in some ways resembles jargon, is slang. <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Slang<\/span><\/span> is the use of existing or newly invented words to take the place of standard or traditional words with the intent of adding an unconventional, nonstandard, humorous, or rebellious effect. It differs from jargon in that it is used in informal contexts, among friends or members of a certain age group, rather than by professionals in a certain industry.\r\n\r\nIf you say something is \u201cphat,\u201d you may mean \u201ccool,\u201d which is now a commonly understood slang word, but your coworker may not know this. As word \u201cphat\u201d moves into the mainstream, it will be replaced and adapted by the communities that use it.\r\n\r\nSince our emphasis in business communication is on clarity, and a slang word runs the risk of creating misinterpretation, it is generally best to avoid slang. You may see the marketing department use a slang word to target a specific, well-researched audience, but for our purposes of your general presentation introducing a product or service, we will stick to clear, common words that are easily understood.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Sexist and Racist Language<\/h2>\r\nSome forms of slang involve put-downs of people belonging to various groups. This type of slang often crosses the line and becomes offensive, not only to the groups that are being put down, but also to others who may hear it. In today\u2019s workplace there is no place where sexist or racist language is appropriate. In fact, using such language can be a violation of company policies and in some cases antidiscrimination laws.\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Sexist language<\/span><\/span> uses gender as a discriminating factor. Referring to adult women as \u201cgirls\u201d or using the word \u201cman\u201d to refer to humankind are examples of sexist language. In a more blatant example, several decades ago a woman was the first female sales representative in her company\u2019s sales force. The men resented her and were certain they could outsell her, so they held a \u201cBeat the Broad\u201d sales contest. (By the way, she won.) Today, a contest with a name like that would be out of the question.\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Racist language<\/span><\/span> discriminates against members of a given race or ethnic group. While it may be obvious that racial and ethnic slurs have no place in business communication, there can also be issues with more subtle references to \u201c<em class=\"im_emphasis\">those<\/em> people\u201d or \u201cyou know how <em class=\"im_emphasis\">they<\/em> are.\u201d If race or ethnicity genuinely enters into the subject of your communication\u2014in a drugstore, for example, there is often an aisle for black hair care products\u2014then naturally it makes sense to mention customers belonging to that group. The key is that mentioning racial and ethnic groups should be done with the same respect you would desire if someone else were referring to groups you belong to.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Euphemisms<\/h2>\r\nIn seeking to avoid offensive slang, it is important not to assume that a euphemism is the solution. A <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">euphemism<\/span><\/span> involves substituting an acceptable word for an offensive, controversial, or unacceptable one that conveys the same or similar meaning. The problem is that the audience still knows what the expression means, and understands that the writer or speaker is choosing a euphemism for the purpose of sounding more educated or genteel.\r\n\r\nEuphemisms can also be used sarcastically or humorously\u2014\u201cH-E-double-hockey-sticks,\u201d for example, is a euphemism for \u201chell\u201d that may be amusing in some contexts. If your friend has just gotten a new job as a janitor, you may jokingly ask, \u201cHow\u2019s my favorite sanitation engineer this morning?\u201d But such humor is not always appreciated, and can convey disrespect even when none is intended.\r\n\r\nEuphemistic words are not always disrespectful, however. For example, when referring to a death, it is considered polite in many parts of the United States to say that the person \u201cpassed\u201d or \u201cpassed away,\u201d rather than the relatively insensitive word, \u201cdied.\u201d Similarly, people say, \u201cI need to find a bathroom\u201d when it is well understood they are not planning to take a bath.\r\n\r\nStill, these polite euphemisms are exceptions to the rule. Euphemisms are generally more of a hindrance than a help to understanding. In business communication the goal is clarity, and the very purpose of euphemism is to be vague. To be clear, choose words that mean what you intend to convey.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Doublespeak<\/h2>\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Doublespeak<\/span><\/span> is the deliberate use of words to disguise, obscure, or change meaning. Doublespeak is often present in bureaucratic communication, where it can serve to cast a person or an organization in a less unfavorable light than plain language would do.\r\n\r\nWhen you ask a friend, \u201cHow does it feel to be downsized?\u201d you are using a euphemism to convey humor, possibly even dark humor. Your friend\u2019s employer was likely not joking, though, when the action was announced as a \u201cdownsizing\u201d rather than as a \u201clayoff\u201d or \u201cdismissal.\u201d In military communications, \u201ccollateral damage\u201d is often used to refer to civilian deaths, but no mention of the dead is present. You may recall the \u201cbailout\u201d of the U.S. economy in 2008, which quickly came to be called the \u201crescue\u201d and finally the \u201cbuy in\u201d as the United States bought interests in nine regional and national banks. The meaning changed from saving an economic system or its institutions to investing in them. This change of terms, and the attempt to change the meaning of the actions, became common in comedy routines across the nation.\r\n\r\nDoublespeak can be quite dangerous when it is used deliberately to obscure meaning and the listener cannot anticipate or predict consequences based on the (in)effective communication. When a medical insurance company says, \u201cWe insure companies with up to twenty thousand lives,\u201d is it possible to forget that those \u201clives\u201d are people? Ethical issues quickly arise when humans are dehumanized and referred to as \u201cobjects\u201d or \u201csubjects.\u201d When genocide is referred to as \u201cethnic cleansing,\u201d is it any less deadly than when called by its true name?\r\n\r\nIf the meaning was successfully hidden from the audience, one might argue that the doublespeak was in fact effective. But our goal continues to be clear and concise communication with a minimum of misinterpretation. Learn to recognize doublespeak by what it does not communicate as well as what it communicates.\r\n\r\nEach of these six barriers to communication contributes to misunderstanding and miscommunication, intentionally or unintentionally. If you recognize one of them, you can address it right away. You can redirect a question and get to essential meaning, rather than leaving with a misunderstanding that impacts the relationship. In business communication, our goal of clear and concise communication remains constant, but we can never forget that trust is the foundation for effective communication. Part of our effort must include reinforcing the relationship inherent between source and receiver, and one effective step toward that goal is to reduce obstacles to effective communication.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\r\n<h3>KEY TAKEAWAY<\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">To avoid obstacles to communication, avoid clich\u00e9s, jargon, slang, sexist and racist language, euphemisms, and doublespeak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n<div data-type=\"note\"><\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_n01\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\"><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_n02\" class=\"im_exercises im_editable im_block\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\r\n<h3>EXERCISES<\/h3>\r\n<section id=\"self-check-questions\">\r\n<ol id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_l01\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\r\n\t<li>Identify at least five common clich\u00e9s and look up their origins. Try to understand how and when each phrase became a clich\u00e9. Share your findings with your classmates.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Using your library\u2019s microfilm files or an online database, look through newspaper articles from the 1950s or earlier. Find at least one article that uses sexist or racist language. What makes it racist or sexist? How would a journalist convey the same information today? Share your findings with your class.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Identify one slang term and one euphemism you know is used in your community, among your friends, or where you work. Share and compare with classmates.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>How does language change over time? Interview someone older than you and someone younger than you and identify words that have changed. Pay special attention to jargon and slang words.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Is there ever a justifiable use for doublespeak? Why or why not? Explain your response and give some examples.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Can people readily identify the barriers to communication? Survey ten individuals and see if they accurately identify at least one barrier, even if they use a different term or word.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVES<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_l01\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\n<li>Demonstrate six ways in which language can be an obstacle or barrier to communication.<\/li>\n<li>Explain the differences between clich\u00e9s, jargon, and slang.<\/li>\n<li>Explain the difference between sexist or racist language and legitimate references to gender or race in business communication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>As you use language to make sense of your experiences, as part of our discussion, you no doubt came to see that language and verbal communication can work both for you and against you. Language allows you to communicate, but it also allows you to miscommunicate and misunderstand. The same system we use to express our most intimate thoughts can be frustrating when it fails to capture our thoughts, to represent what we want to express, and to reach our audience. For all its faults, though, it is the best system we have, and part of improving the communication process is the clear identification of where it breaks down. Anticipate where a word or expression may need more clarification and you will be on your way to reducing errors and improving verbal communication.<\/p>\n<p>In an article titled \u201cThe Miscommunication Gap,\u201d Susan Washburn lists several undesirable results of poor communication in business:<span id=\"fwk-mclean-fn02_017\" class=\"im_footnote\">Washburn, S. (2008, February). The miscommunication gap. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">ESI Horizons, 9<\/em>(2). Retrieved from <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.esi-intl.com\/public\/Library\/html\/200802HorizonsArticle1.asp?UnityID=8522516.1290\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.esi-intl.com\/public\/Library\/html\/200802HorizonsArticle1.asp?UnityID=8522516.1290<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_l02\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Damaged relationships<\/li>\n<li>Loss of productivity<\/li>\n<li>Inefficiency and rework<\/li>\n<li>Conflict<\/li>\n<li>Missed opportunities<\/li>\n<li>Schedule slippage (delays, missed deadlines)<\/li>\n<li>Scope creep\u2026or leap (gradual or sudden changes in an assignment that make it more complex and difficult than it was originally understood to be)<\/li>\n<li>Wasted resources<\/li>\n<li>Unclear or unmet requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this section we discuss how words can serve either as a bridge, or a barrier, to understanding and communication of meaning. Our goals of effective and efficient business communication mean an inherent value of words and terms that keeps the bridge clear and free of obstacles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Clich\u00e9<\/h2>\n<p>A <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">clich\u00e9<\/span><\/span> is a once-clever word or phrase that has lost its impact through overuse. If you spoke or wrote in clich\u00e9s, how would your audience react? Let\u2019s try it. How do you react when you read this sentence: \u201cA clich\u00e9 is something to avoid like the plague, for it is nothing but a tired old war horse, and if the shoe were on the other foot you too would have an axe to grind\u201d? As you can see, the problem with clich\u00e9s is that they often sound silly or boring.<\/p>\n<p>Clich\u00e9s are sometimes a symptom of lazy communication\u2014the person using the clich\u00e9 hasn\u2019t bothered to search for original words to convey the intended meaning. Clich\u00e9s lose their impact because readers and listeners tend to gloss over them, assuming their common meaning while ignoring your specific use of them. As a result, they can be obstacles to successful communication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Jargon<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s pretend you\u2019ve been assigned to the task of preparing a short presentation on your company\u2019s latest product for a group of potential customers. It\u2019s a big responsibility. You only have one opportunity to get it right. You will need to do extensive planning and preparation, and your effort, if done well, will produce a presentation that is smooth and confident, looking simple to the casual audience member.<\/p>\n<p>What words do you use to communicate information about your product? Is your audience familiar with your field and its specialized terms? As potential customers, they are probably somewhat knowledgeable in the field, but not to the extent that you and your coworkers are; even less so compared to the \u201ctechies\u201d who developed the product. For your presentation to succeed, your challenge is to walk a fine line between using too much profession-specific language on the one hand, and \u201ctalking down\u201d to your audience on the other hand.<\/p>\n<p>While your potential customers may not understand all the engineering and schematic detail terms involved in the product, they do know what they and their organizations are looking for in considering a purchase. Your solution may be to focus on common ground\u2014what you know of their past history in terms of contracting services or buying products from your company. What can you tell from their historical purchases? If your research shows that they place a high value on saving time, you can focus your presentation on the time-saving aspects of your new product and leave the technical terms to the user\u2019s manual.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Jargon<\/span><\/span> is an occupation-specific language used by people in a given profession. Jargon does not necessarily imply formal education, but instead focuses on the language people in a profession use to communicate with each other. Members of the information technology department have a distinct group of terms that refer to common aspects in their field. Members of the marketing department, or advertising, or engineering, research, and development also have sets of terms they use within their professional community. Jargon exists in just about every occupation, independent of how much formal education is involved\u2014from medicine and law; to financial services, banking, and insurance; to animal husbandry, auto repair, and the construction trades.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not to use jargon is often a judgment call, and one that is easier to make in speaking than in writing. In an oral context, we may be able to use a technical term and instantly know from feedback whether or not the receiver of the message \u201cgot it.\u201d If they didn\u2019t, we can define it on the spot. In written language, we lack that immediate response and must attend more to the context of receiver. The more we learn about our audience, the better we can tailor our chosen words. If we lack information or want our document to be understood by a variety of readers, it pays to use common words and avoid jargon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Slang<\/h2>\n<p>Think for a moment about the words and expressions you use when you communicate with your best friends. If a coworker was to hang out with you and your friends, would they understand all the words you use, the music you listen to, the stories you tell and the way you tell them? Probably not, because you and your friends probably use certain words and expressions in ways that have special meaning to you.<\/p>\n<p>This special form of language, which in some ways resembles jargon, is slang. <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Slang<\/span><\/span> is the use of existing or newly invented words to take the place of standard or traditional words with the intent of adding an unconventional, nonstandard, humorous, or rebellious effect. It differs from jargon in that it is used in informal contexts, among friends or members of a certain age group, rather than by professionals in a certain industry.<\/p>\n<p>If you say something is \u201cphat,\u201d you may mean \u201ccool,\u201d which is now a commonly understood slang word, but your coworker may not know this. As word \u201cphat\u201d moves into the mainstream, it will be replaced and adapted by the communities that use it.<\/p>\n<p>Since our emphasis in business communication is on clarity, and a slang word runs the risk of creating misinterpretation, it is generally best to avoid slang. You may see the marketing department use a slang word to target a specific, well-researched audience, but for our purposes of your general presentation introducing a product or service, we will stick to clear, common words that are easily understood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Sexist and Racist Language<\/h2>\n<p>Some forms of slang involve put-downs of people belonging to various groups. This type of slang often crosses the line and becomes offensive, not only to the groups that are being put down, but also to others who may hear it. In today\u2019s workplace there is no place where sexist or racist language is appropriate. In fact, using such language can be a violation of company policies and in some cases antidiscrimination laws.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Sexist language<\/span><\/span> uses gender as a discriminating factor. Referring to adult women as \u201cgirls\u201d or using the word \u201cman\u201d to refer to humankind are examples of sexist language. In a more blatant example, several decades ago a woman was the first female sales representative in her company\u2019s sales force. The men resented her and were certain they could outsell her, so they held a \u201cBeat the Broad\u201d sales contest. (By the way, she won.) Today, a contest with a name like that would be out of the question.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Racist language<\/span><\/span> discriminates against members of a given race or ethnic group. While it may be obvious that racial and ethnic slurs have no place in business communication, there can also be issues with more subtle references to \u201c<em class=\"im_emphasis\">those<\/em> people\u201d or \u201cyou know how <em class=\"im_emphasis\">they<\/em> are.\u201d If race or ethnicity genuinely enters into the subject of your communication\u2014in a drugstore, for example, there is often an aisle for black hair care products\u2014then naturally it makes sense to mention customers belonging to that group. The key is that mentioning racial and ethnic groups should be done with the same respect you would desire if someone else were referring to groups you belong to.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Euphemisms<\/h2>\n<p>In seeking to avoid offensive slang, it is important not to assume that a euphemism is the solution. A <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">euphemism<\/span><\/span> involves substituting an acceptable word for an offensive, controversial, or unacceptable one that conveys the same or similar meaning. The problem is that the audience still knows what the expression means, and understands that the writer or speaker is choosing a euphemism for the purpose of sounding more educated or genteel.<\/p>\n<p>Euphemisms can also be used sarcastically or humorously\u2014\u201cH-E-double-hockey-sticks,\u201d for example, is a euphemism for \u201chell\u201d that may be amusing in some contexts. If your friend has just gotten a new job as a janitor, you may jokingly ask, \u201cHow\u2019s my favorite sanitation engineer this morning?\u201d But such humor is not always appreciated, and can convey disrespect even when none is intended.<\/p>\n<p>Euphemistic words are not always disrespectful, however. For example, when referring to a death, it is considered polite in many parts of the United States to say that the person \u201cpassed\u201d or \u201cpassed away,\u201d rather than the relatively insensitive word, \u201cdied.\u201d Similarly, people say, \u201cI need to find a bathroom\u201d when it is well understood they are not planning to take a bath.<\/p>\n<p>Still, these polite euphemisms are exceptions to the rule. Euphemisms are generally more of a hindrance than a help to understanding. In business communication the goal is clarity, and the very purpose of euphemism is to be vague. To be clear, choose words that mean what you intend to convey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Doublespeak<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Doublespeak<\/span><\/span> is the deliberate use of words to disguise, obscure, or change meaning. Doublespeak is often present in bureaucratic communication, where it can serve to cast a person or an organization in a less unfavorable light than plain language would do.<\/p>\n<p>When you ask a friend, \u201cHow does it feel to be downsized?\u201d you are using a euphemism to convey humor, possibly even dark humor. Your friend\u2019s employer was likely not joking, though, when the action was announced as a \u201cdownsizing\u201d rather than as a \u201clayoff\u201d or \u201cdismissal.\u201d In military communications, \u201ccollateral damage\u201d is often used to refer to civilian deaths, but no mention of the dead is present. You may recall the \u201cbailout\u201d of the U.S. economy in 2008, which quickly came to be called the \u201crescue\u201d and finally the \u201cbuy in\u201d as the United States bought interests in nine regional and national banks. The meaning changed from saving an economic system or its institutions to investing in them. This change of terms, and the attempt to change the meaning of the actions, became common in comedy routines across the nation.<\/p>\n<p>Doublespeak can be quite dangerous when it is used deliberately to obscure meaning and the listener cannot anticipate or predict consequences based on the (in)effective communication. When a medical insurance company says, \u201cWe insure companies with up to twenty thousand lives,\u201d is it possible to forget that those \u201clives\u201d are people? Ethical issues quickly arise when humans are dehumanized and referred to as \u201cobjects\u201d or \u201csubjects.\u201d When genocide is referred to as \u201cethnic cleansing,\u201d is it any less deadly than when called by its true name?<\/p>\n<p>If the meaning was successfully hidden from the audience, one might argue that the doublespeak was in fact effective. But our goal continues to be clear and concise communication with a minimum of misinterpretation. Learn to recognize doublespeak by what it does not communicate as well as what it communicates.<\/p>\n<p>Each of these six barriers to communication contributes to misunderstanding and miscommunication, intentionally or unintentionally. If you recognize one of them, you can address it right away. You can redirect a question and get to essential meaning, rather than leaving with a misunderstanding that impacts the relationship. In business communication, our goal of clear and concise communication remains constant, but we can never forget that trust is the foundation for effective communication. Part of our effort must include reinforcing the relationship inherent between source and receiver, and one effective step toward that goal is to reduce obstacles to effective communication.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\n<h3>KEY TAKEAWAY<\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">To avoid obstacles to communication, avoid clich\u00e9s, jargon, slang, sexist and racist language, euphemisms, and doublespeak.<\/p>\n<section>\n<div data-type=\"note\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_n01\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_n02\" class=\"im_exercises im_editable im_block\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\n<h3>EXERCISES<\/h3>\n<section id=\"self-check-questions\">\n<ol id=\"mclean-ch02_s04_s06_l01\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\n<li>Identify at least five common clich\u00e9s and look up their origins. Try to understand how and when each phrase became a clich\u00e9. Share your findings with your classmates.<\/li>\n<li>Using your library\u2019s microfilm files or an online database, look through newspaper articles from the 1950s or earlier. Find at least one article that uses sexist or racist language. What makes it racist or sexist? How would a journalist convey the same information today? Share your findings with your class.<\/li>\n<li>Identify one slang term and one euphemism you know is used in your community, among your friends, or where you work. Share and compare with classmates.<\/li>\n<li>How does language change over time? Interview someone older than you and someone younger than you and identify words that have changed. Pay special attention to jargon and slang words.<\/li>\n<li>Is there ever a justifiable use for doublespeak? Why or why not? Explain your response and give some examples.<\/li>\n<li>Can people readily identify the barriers to communication? Survey ten individuals and see if they accurately identify at least one barrier, even if they use a different term or word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-829\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Communication For Business Success. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: anonymous. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/\">http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":9,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Communication For Business Success\",\"author\":\"anonymous\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-829","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":824,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":896,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/829\/revisions\/896"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/824"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/829\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=829"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=829"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}