While I was faculty president, I gave copies of 1984 to a number of people to remind them of the chilling threats and effects of totalitarianism and of the dangers of doublespeak. Language matters.
Lewis Carroll, though more playful, also is masterful with language and with alerting us to the dangers of when illogic becomes the norm and when language is misused and abused. I find my institution’s decisions a few year’s ago to redefine by fiat the word “department” on our campus and the changing of our name from “college” to “university” Humpty-Dumpty-like. The “buzzwords” and evolving (and sometimes assaulting or insulting) lexicons creeping into our everyday discourse painfully annoying. They often hinder communication and they definitely have added many shades of gray to my beard. I am abuzz with buzzwords.
What’s the Latest Campus Buzz: (Huh? Which Meaning?)
- hum
- murmur
- high
- bombination
- drone
- purr
- whirring
- sibilation
- hiss
- whiz
- sigh
- rustle
- sough
- rumor
- report
- gossip
- hearsay
- scuttlebutt
- scandal
- small talk
- chitchat
- fizzle
- sizzle
- Look here for more here:
It is interesting how the “buzzwords” (e.g. transparency, branding, moving forward, engagement, buzz) have positive connotations for some professionals and create a need for a swear jar or playing buzz word bingo for others.
Gotta buzz the dog outside before buzzing a friend to see if he wants to play buzzword bingo tomorrow. Then I’ll study my handy 2019 Marketing BuzzWord list.
