Language

Non Government Organisations (NGOs) are buggers for using jargon: blue-sky thinking: pushing the envelope: gaining traction: cascading information: surge capacity – and my all-time favourite howler, “reaching out!” Jargon is closed codes that shut others out for no good reason apart from the power of exclusion: it’s not clever, just snooty. I think simple clear communication is more honest, and effective. Break the code and speak out. Choose your language for yourself (please also avoid acronyms for people like me who have no idea what most of them mean), and always, always ask cheeky questions. Learning to swear in other languages is also very satisfying.