It probably does, and it’s probably money.
No, it’s “incent.” Sadly, though, I have to concede that it’s a back formation and “incentivize” came first. :mad:
So? All I am saying is that making ‘ask’ a noun in unnecessary.
No, the verb is ‘incite’. You might try doing some research and look things up.
So? What a sad world it would be if we only did what was necessary.
“Convincingly combat” is even worse than “what’s the ask?” I hope that paragraph is fiction, made up as an example.
Help us cure cancer. Send money.
The usage is unfamiliar and creates confusion. It calls attention to itself and shows that the speaker cannot bother to learn and use his native tongue. It shows disrespect for the hearer.
yeah, I did. But since you’re being kind of an ass about it, which I think has been mentioned already upthread, I’ll show you what I found.
Definition of INCITE-
: to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on
Middle French inciter, from Latin incitare, from in- + citare to put in motion — more at cite
Definition of INCENT-
: incentivize
Middle English, from Late Latin incentivum, from neuter of incentivus stimulating, from Latin, setting the tune, from incentus, past participle of incinere to play (a tune), from in- + canere to sing
Now let’s get this thread back on track.
Um, if everyone in industry uses the same language, then who is confused? There is technical language I wouldn’t use in every day conversation that is absolutely appropriate in my work environment. Everything from scientific terms to the language of education.
If everyone is using it at work, who exactly is confused? No one is suggestion that this is the language you use at a cocktail party.
Some of it sounds dopey to my ears, as I imagine some of my jargon would, but I’m not the audience.
Jargon seems to be more popular in the US than in England or elsewhere. This does us no credit. I refuse to use it, in any context, and I have had the opportunity. Engineers do it, government agencies do it, you name it. There is a difference between technical terms and jargon.
I suppose someone could say ‘Ks’ instead of kilowatts…
I would disagree with the bolded section. I think people use the terms to demonstrate a determination to break the rules, not ignorance of them.
The terms are not used to improve communication, but to demonstrate power, or, at the least, an association with those with power.
If I may, it’s really just another form of wienie-wagging.
No. Jargon is simply specialized language and includes technical language:
And even within technical fields there is jargon that is not technical language. Many technical terms are abbreviated ir turned into phrases that are no longer purely technical. Such as using clicks for kilometers. Certainly within higher ed there is plenty of jargon used as well.
I get it. You don’t like it. But dismissing people’s experiences who find it useful or not a problem is kind of rude. You’re basically telling them that you know better than they do about their own life.
Jargon includes technical language, but it also includes what is merely ‘code’ (intended to mark one as an initiate), shorthand, or euphemism. I know what ‘jargon’ means.
And ‘rude’ my protests certainly are not. There are many articles and books that deride and criticize the practice. Start with Modern English Usage by Fowler.
Here is something of interest:
It’s not likely at all. It’s a standard piece of business jargon that is widely accepted and has a clear definition.
If it’s “probably” anything, then it’s not an ask. Asks are unambiguous and eliminate inference. That’s what separates an ask from a standard request or suggestion.
Look, language evolves organically which means that words are never an exact aesthetic fit for the concept they represent. My own personal bugaboo is using sous vide for sub-boiling temperature controlled bath cooking which derives from the French “under vacuum” despite vacuum sealing being a completely orthogonal concept. Do I think sous vide is a shitty name for the technique? Yes. Do I think sous vide is conceptually distinct enough from poaching, simmering, braising, deep frying and retort canning to deserve it’s own word? Also yes.
Look, I agree with you that ask is a shitty, awkward word and not my first choice to represent this concept. At the same time, I’m mature enough to not go constantly tilting at windmills and just accept that it’s become the accepted nomenclature that facilitates smooth communication.
If you feel like incite is a better word than incentivize to represent the same concept, that’s your prerogative but your chances of converting all of the world to your view is slim.
It’s not knowing the definition that’s the problem. It’s that the definition is overly broad and transmits very little information. Using it is lazy, dismissive, inexpressive, and insulting.
Even if you think the word is perfectly fine, you can see from this thread that a high proportion of people consider the word unbelievably stupid. If you use it, then, their opinion of you is instantly lowered and they are that much less likely to give you what you need. On the other hand, you can earn greater respect by using language that is both more expressive and standard English. Which serves your interests more?
“It is what it is.” (ongoing refrain - yes, things are what they are…in fact!)
- and -
“I pre-dated my signature to make it more accurate.”
pretty funny when taken together.
The whole point of language is to communicate, and our existing English vocabulary (which is larger than that of most European languages) is adequate for almost any conceivable situation. Of course there are lexical gaps, but these are usually not such that call for making ‘ask’ into a noun. Paraphrase usually works.
There are lots of us who already know what the word ‘incite’ means. Some of us are professional authors or translators who work with language everyday. Business leaders are subject to various pressures, and clear communication is vital to most enterprises. So is respect for leadership. Respect for the leadership is lost when leadership speaks or writes like morons. what if someone thought it was clever to capitalize the last letter in a sentence instead of the firsT. see how awesomely original that iS?