September is a month of new beginnings; a new year, well into the year. Adults and students alike feel a sense of rejuvenation as they embark on a new cycle of learning and challenges. I thought I would take the opportunity to pass on a few points of importance as we begin cocooning at our desks in long hours of darkness.
This past summer I took the opportunity to present a case study on the incomparable Warren Buffett for Havard University's Business Rhetoric Class. Aside from his impressive investment acumen, Buffett's use of language strategically influences his audience. It is short, direct, and plain English with proper grammar and no spelling errors.
Taking it a step further, I pose the question:How does one use language while measuring …show more content…
Furthermore, his use of the personal pronoun "I" jumped from 0 to 27 in shareholder letters. As the number of shareholders increased, so did his informality. However, Buffett did not simplify his message, but rather, he clarified his language so that an eighth grader could read and understand it. Moreover, the number of words decreased to an average of eight per sentence. If the most tenured CEO in the world is aiming for the eyes of a young student, why then do we feel the need to complicate shared information?
Insecurity.
During my tenure as a communications and documentation manager on a large scale architectural project, I could barely stomach the tail spinning emails featuring unrelated content and mind-boggling spelling errors. However, I believe whenever I am pointing the finger, three are pointing back at me. I took a step back and reassessed my reaction. Instead of being critical, I offered to assist. I soon discovered for those who struggle with English as a second language, clarity of syntax will be compromised. Furthermore, if English is not a second language, the insecurity surrounding technical aptitude is the culprit.
Research reveals we overcompensate with long-drawn-out sentences that seem to go on forever without an end in sight and we just continue to share information as we try to stop ourselves from appearing
This past summer I took the opportunity to present a case study on the incomparable Warren Buffett for Havard University's Business Rhetoric Class. Aside from his impressive investment acumen, Buffett's use of language strategically influences his audience. It is short, direct, and plain English with proper grammar and no spelling errors.
Taking it a step further, I pose the question:How does one use language while measuring …show more content…
Furthermore, his use of the personal pronoun "I" jumped from 0 to 27 in shareholder letters. As the number of shareholders increased, so did his informality. However, Buffett did not simplify his message, but rather, he clarified his language so that an eighth grader could read and understand it. Moreover, the number of words decreased to an average of eight per sentence. If the most tenured CEO in the world is aiming for the eyes of a young student, why then do we feel the need to complicate shared information?
Insecurity.
During my tenure as a communications and documentation manager on a large scale architectural project, I could barely stomach the tail spinning emails featuring unrelated content and mind-boggling spelling errors. However, I believe whenever I am pointing the finger, three are pointing back at me. I took a step back and reassessed my reaction. Instead of being critical, I offered to assist. I soon discovered for those who struggle with English as a second language, clarity of syntax will be compromised. Furthermore, if English is not a second language, the insecurity surrounding technical aptitude is the culprit.
Research reveals we overcompensate with long-drawn-out sentences that seem to go on forever without an end in sight and we just continue to share information as we try to stop ourselves from appearing