How Language Is Used in the Workplace free essay sample

How Language Is Used in the Workplace BY Francine Spoken Language Study -? Social Attitudes to Spoken Language Investigate speech that is particular to a workplace.ESSAY PLAN * spoken language used In working environment, my Job as a SQ, spoken word different in different settings egg, WHQL or construction site, professional language * use of Jargon, three letter acronyms, unique to an office egg, CSVs etc, technical language, used frequently, humorous re new employees, dont have a clue what Is being said * buzz words, mention text speaking, professional buzz words made fun f Bull Bingo, explain game and give egg, can download a bingo card, used In boring meetings * computer language, used by software users not IT professionals egg Trekker etc, passer-by wont understand conversation, mention experience with an accountant * compare office and normal language, body language, eye contact, lies, move when exaggerate a story, clench fists, courses on body language * general spoken langua ge is office is professional too, no slang, swearing and respectful (unless on a construction site), very non-PC (acronym) * certain types of people speak differently, cant chose who you work with, personality clashes, not children * yes men, power shared is knowledge lost, using buzz word here, poor communicators, Life long use of Jargon so cant talk normally to explain things, * no gossip or chatter like in a supermarket which is less relaxed, heads down butts up, can lead to tension, blow off steam in breaks or social events outside of work, get to know work mates personally, can create a better working environment, efficient and effective * summary -? formal, diplomatic, tactful and direct. Save their own skins yep of people, learn from your own mistakes, many people are outspoken and tactless, curbed in office, think before speaking, dont speak your mind, speak how you expect to be spoken to, open, formal, to the point Spoken Language Study Social Attitudes to Spoken Language Investigate speech 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 deferent 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 favorite use of this, is three their own unique acronyms and you have to learn them or you will literally be left UT. For example, CSVs (cost, value and reconciliation), Final Accounts, PEE (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 employees 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 (egg, C U LTR 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 hat 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 programmer such as Trekker and Researches. Staff will have full conversations talking about a particular programmer, what difficulties they are having, a particular section of that programmer 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 Accountants response was Oh you wouldnt understand, and he was right, I didnt 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. 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, UT 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 Im 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 hat 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 egg, 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. (1192 words)