Further to our post last year about banned words, I thought I’d share something I found at my parents’ home this Christmas.
It shows that stockpiles of impressive sounding yet ultimately meaningless words have been around for a while – and they’re certainly not limited to the creative industry. This sheet was circulated in the research labs of British Steel in the 1970s:
TRANSCRIPT:
BSC Special Steels
Management Training Centre
Brookfield Manor
Instant Random Jargon Generator
Technology has created a new type of jargon that is nearly as incomprehensible as it is sophisticated. We recently came across an unusual technique called an Instant Random Jargon Generator, which will help you master this jargon. With it, you can generate an almost endless variety of intelligent-sounding technical terms.
The technique is easy to use. Merely select a digit from each of the three columns below and combine the words opposite each number into your own technical jargon. For example, select ‘3’, ‘9’, and ‘0’ and you generate ‘Parallel policy options’,’ an expression bound to command instant respect – and confusion.
MORAL: Watch your language
COLUMN 1
0. integrated
1. total
2. systematized
3. parallel
4. functional
5. responsive
6. optical
7. synchronized
8. compatible
9. balanced
COLUMN 2
0. management
1. organizational
2. monitored
3. reciprocal
4. digital
5. logic
6. transitional
7. incremental
8. third-generation
9. policy
10. quality (handwritten)
COLUMN 3
0. options
1. flexibility
2. capability
3. mobility
4. programming
5. concept
6. time-phase
7. projection
8. hardware
9. contingency
10. performance (handwritten)
