JARGON OF COMMERCE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 447, 1 June 1937, Page 7

JARGON OF COMMERCE

HOW TIME MAY BE SAVED Passing 01 Old-fashioned Methods Despite the ridicule of many critics, numerous offices in British countries, including New Zealand, continue to “beg to (acknowledge receipt” and -to repeat other absurd phrases of “business English ” This matter drew some interesting comment recently in “The Certified Accountants’ Journal” (London). “The curious jargon to which the doubtful term ‘business English’ has been applied is happily less common now in commercial correspondence than it was a decade ago,” the writer states. “Such verba] atrocities as ‘Your esteemed favour of even date to hand and same shall receive our best attention’ are now comparative, ly rare,, though by no means extinct, But conventional phrases and expressions which do violence to the English language are still sufficiently common in commercial usage to call forth, from time to time, 'the condemnation of educationists and others to whom such maltreatment of our language is offensive.

“The principal of the City of Birmingham Commercial College, at a recent prize distribution, made some pertinent observations on this subject. ‘lf,’ he said, ‘it is impossible to induce some business’ men to write good English because they do not know it or like it, or because it is grammatical, perhaps they may 'do so when they learn that it is cheaper ” He pointed out, quoting Mr A. P. Herbert, that common business

phrases contain an unnecessarily large number of words, and that (taking a representative selection of such Phrases) the employment of standard English would effect a saving of 36 per cent. ‘lt is an obvious conclusion,’ he went on to say, ‘that if li firm insists on the use of standard English it may be able to dispense with one typist in three, not to speak of the saving of tme in die; atio-n aud the wear and tear of typewriters, Ptncilt’ etc.’ ’ Perhaps this is pressing the argument a Irttle too far, but in any <l.,se business English’ deserves condemnation on other grounds than those of economy. To quote, frolp thfe report of a Departmental Committee appointed by the Board ’of Education some years ago to inquire into the teaching of English in England““Commercial English” is not. only objectionable to all fhose who hls.ve the purity of the language at heart, but also contrary to the true interests of commercial life, sapping its vitality and encouraging the use of dry, meaningless formulae just where vigorous and arresting English is the chief requisite.’ “Closely related to’‘business Eng. hsh, a.mj almost as objectionable is the language of official correspondence. I have the honour to acquaint J ou, , and f am yoqr obedient servant, writes the high government ofhcial to the humblest of us. Officers State are, ft is true, theoretically servants of the public, but let any member of the public demand obedience from them and they may Have the honour to acquaint him that ‘your