American Jargon and Baffling Idioms

What are some examples of language proliferation in American English ?

Old Terms New Terms Personnel Director Someone who is in charge of Insurance Salesperson Director of Human Resources Director of Risk Management Account Manager; Service Representative

Why is American English so proliferated?

Because it is full of: buzzwords, cusswords, puns, gags, show biz zingers, hyperbole, euphemisms, Latinisms, local colors, jargons, slang, and officialese.

What does the sentence mean: “

It is clear that America faces a communications crisis that neither Berlitz nor bytes alone can solve

” ?

What’s the meaning of the following idioms?

As nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs Flat as a pancake Safe as Fort Knox Old as Methuselah Funny as a rubber crutch Raining cats and dogs Flying by the seat of your pants Coming up roses

Make waves Keep a low profile Leave someone out in left field Ballpark figure Get to first base Play for all the marbles A whole new ball game Get someone into hot water

Don ’ t “ Frenchify ” pronunciation. your American

Don ’ t show off by using the Latin/Greek equivalent of English as per se, ad hoc, quid pro quo, and a priori, unless you are in the field of religion or law.

expressions , such Reasons: You may misuse or overuse them.

You may embarrass your non-native English-speaking associates.

You may mispronounce them.

You may make grammatical mistakes when using them.

Other points about “how” to say things: Tame the down-home accent and word choices.

Beware of drawls and twangs.

Speak at normal speed — not too fast and not too slow.

Try to repeat sometimes.

Respect the “ silent period ” among the Japanese during business meetings.

Keep in mind that your words may be taken literally by your foreign counterpart.

Jargons

Most jargons die out quickly. Using yesterday Jargons don ’ ’ s buzzword today is as fatal a career move as rolling a Hula Hoop to the office.

t always come from the high-tech heritage, some low-tech words that have been around a long time and have been studied by foreigners may be a challenge for native speakers to understand.

Coast Speak

A lot of idiomatic expressions in American English come from California. For example: with you “ share ” the life story “ consciousness-raising ” “ workshop ” on anything the use of the verb: take a meeting, do drugs, flow …

General Confusion in Command

Jargons used in the military and the space program affect the way people use the language.

“reentry” “burnout” “abort” “facility”—”a relief facility”

Oxymoron

Jumbo shrimp Metal wood (golf) Fair tax Epic miniseries Guest host Bitter sweetness

“laptop” “desktop publication” “read my lips” “spin doctor” “catastrophic health insurance”

Business Slang

“hog heaven” “gridlock” “leveraged buyouts” “number crunching” “power lunch/breakfast”

The You Nobody Knows

Avoid using expletives (swear words) or slang expressions that have the four-letter words connotation (e.g. “ smart ass”) even when the business seems to be officially over. Avoid the usual ephemera such as “with it,” “go for it,” and “no way,” even “scratch the sushi."

Officialese

Acronyms should be avoided. Unless everybody knows what you are shortening, the best policy is to say the words out one by one. “Found Under Carnal Knowledge” APEC—Asia Pacific Economic

Cooperation

OPEC—The Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries

ILGWU ASCAP

Leave the Locals Local

Don’t imitate your host’s accent even though it is intended as a friendly joke or compliment.

Never try to get a chuckle at the expense of the national cuisine or architecture or government.

Words and Grammar

Exaggeration and Euphemism can be taken literally.

“fantastic” “fabulous” “disaster” “idiot” “slave driver” “powder room” “comfort station” Grammar “I couldn’t read hardly a word of your contract.”

Me Tarzan, You Jane

Never go on to the next point until the last one is thoroughly understood. But never speak condescendingly, either.

Ways of checking comprehension: “It’s a complicated subject. Did I go too fast?” “Sometimes I speak too quickly. Shall I go over that again?”

Other Languages, Other Misunderstandings

Am English British English

Knickers plus fours At the end of the day

Sth. will never be done

Backlog

(a list of order waiting (a hopelessly to be filled) overstocked inventory) Tabling an item at a meeting (put the discussion off) have the discussion

Am English British English

Fill him in

(provide him with (hit someone some info.) over the head)

My presentation bombed.

failure a great success

In Spain:

Discuss

 “discutir”

Support



Embarrassed

 “Estoy embarazado” argue financial aid pregnant

In France:

Demand Actual

  ask present In Japan:

You No

very rude to address someone directly There is no real “no” in the Japanese lg.

“Our thinking is in parallel.”  We are in disagreement.