Save their own skins type of people, learn from your own mistakes, many people are outspoken and tactless, curbed in office, think before speaking, don't speak your mind, speak how you expect to be spoken to, open, formal, to the pointSpoken Language Study – Social Attitudes to Spoken Language Investigate speech that is particular to a workplace. I am going to talk about how spoken language is used in a working environment and how it differs from spoken language use in every day life. I once worked as a Quantity Surveyor and have been in several office environments where language is used that would never be heard outside of the building. Also workplace language can be very different depending upon just the setting. For example, a Head Office building, a construction site and even meetings taking place at service stations on a motorway because attendees come from different parts of the country.More importantly is that this environment is professional and language can be formal, formal slang and key to that particular office or situation.
We tend to use a lot of jargon and I mean a lot! The favourite use of this, is three letter acronyms; which I loath with a passion. Every office or new environment have their own unique acronyms and you have to learn them or you will literally be left out. For example, CVR's (cost, value and reconciliation), Final Accounts, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and numerous others. This is classed as 'technical' language and not an hour will go by without someone using it and expecting the person they are talking to to fully understand what is being discussed.
It is quite humorous to see the look on a new employee's face when conversation begins. They are trying to understand and be engaging, but you can see the turmoil behind their eyes as they have not got a clue what is going on! I know, I have been there. Another form of technical speaking is classed as 'buzz words'. Buzz words are used in every day life such as text speaking (eg, “C U L8tr” and “LOL”), but professional buzz words and phrases take on a whole new meaning.
We, as professional personnel, have adapted a way to make our buzz words fun. We have a game entitled 'Bulls**t Bingo'! This game is played frequently, openly, with or without a 'bingo card' and made fun of.If Mr Joe Public were in the room whilst this game was in operation, he would think he had been beamed onto a different planet. Here are a few example of what would be on a players game card - “think outside the box”, “singing from the same hymn sheets”, “reinventing the wheel” and other such ludicrous statements. You can even download one of these game cards from the Internet they are so popular, especially in boring lengthy meetings. Other technical terms of speech used in the workplace is computer language.
This is not the type of language that is used by IT Professionals, but more a type of language used by the users of the software. For example, we have used computer programmes such as 'Trakker' and 'Archillies'.Staff will have full conversations talking about a particular programme, what difficulties they are having, a particular section of that programme etc. Passer-bys will just hear nonsensical speech with the words 'and', 'but' and 'because' thrown in, because the passer-by will only be able to understand those words spoken. I have had particular experience of this when visiting another department within a building.
I wished to ask one of the Accountants about a client I was currently dealing with. As I approached said Accountant, he was in deep conversation with one of his colleagues. I waited until they had finished and politely enquired what the difficulty was. My Accountant's response was 'Oh you wouldn't understand', and he was right, I didn't understand a word of what they were saying!There are similarities between spoken language within a workplace and general spoken language. For example, we all use body language in conversation and a lot of the time we do this subconsciously. We avoid eye contact when nervous or telling a lie; we move more when exaggerating a story and we clench our fists or move our hands behind our back when angry or annoyed.
In a workplace environment people are more acutely aware of body language and there are even courses you can attend to improve you body language and make it more appealing, especially when trying to be persuasive in an argument or conflict. Our general spoken language is professional as well.We do not use slang, swear and are respectful of others opinions and differences. Unless you are on a construction site that is! Language there is quite the opposite to an office environment, very non-PC (see another acronym). There are also certain types of people you will come across in a working environment who speak differently.
Some of these people you would not give the time of day to, but because you are working with them your use of language is paramount. You must be respectful, listen and cooperate, if you wish to achieve a successful spoken outcome. Personalities will clash, but in order to be effective, spoken (and written) communication must be efficient.Bullying, coercing and whining will not achieve desired results; we are not children, we are professionals.
There will be 'Yes' men; those who say they will do something and do not, or leave it for others. There will be 'power shared is knowledge lost' men; those who will not share ideas and thoughts for fear of losing credit for it. (You will note that I'm using buzz words). There will also be poor communicators who have been life long users of jargon and get angry or frustrated when they are not understood by others because they lose the ability to use 'normal' language to ensure they are coherent.
In professional offices there is very little 'gossip' and 'chatter'. Heads are down and butts are up (Bingo! , whereas in a workplace which is more relaxed, say a Supermarket, chatter is more abundant and acceptable. This, at times, can lead to tension in the workplace, so often professionals will chatter at breaks and ensure that they are away from the office. Also I have found that in this type of workplace environment, social events are arranged regularly so that workers can blow off steam and get to know each other personally. This in turn creates a better working environment and people understand each other more as they have a brief insight into that person eg, how they think, their interests etc.
All in all creating a more effective and efficient form of spoken communication.In summary, speech that is used in a professional office environment will always be formal, diplomatic, tactful (most of the time) and direct. There will be many who have the view of 'saving their own skin' and telling others to 'learn from their mistakes', but there are people like that in any given environment. There are people all over the world that are out-spoken, opinionated and tactlessly direct.
In an office, this is curbed and you should always think before you speak; speaking your mind is not generally the ideal way to communicate. A note to remember is that in any workplace such as this, you should speak how you would write; formal, to the point and open for discussion.
