[Sigia-l] Buzzwords (was microcontent - a definition?)

[gunnar]

I may not be entirely qualified to comment on this, as I don't have the latest
form the US context but, this quote:  "enigmatic nomenclature" tells me that
the discussion is among "language people".

In a dynamic world you actually HAVE TO deal with enigmatic nomenclature, or
terms which have not yet been defined in Websters. That is probably the same
all over the globe.

IAs have to deal with buzzwords and words which are deemed "buzz" by some and
by others are regarded as evidence of real innovation. If we can't deal with
the changing world, we should find a job in a school library.

Microcontent seems to have two definitions. Big deal.

There's no need to resent the marketing peoples use of buzzwords, unless of
course you don't like marketing. Language people will know of Roman Jacobsons
language functions. The Konative function which has to do with saying "I'm ok
- you're ok" so to speak - is very much in play when you use buzzwords and
three letter acronyms. 
We need to have a feeling that we are speaking of the same subject matter -
even when we do not really know if we actually are. Then - as we spend time
together, work on projects etc. - we gradually grow our understanding towards
each other, and end up using the same words for the same meaning (more or
less). But if we, from the outset, refuse to deal with words which are not
precisely defined - we will never get to this point. The loser will be the
refuser. 
IAs often come across as agressive, defensive and resentful of other
professions - in the struggle to carve out an "IA turf" exclusive to IAs. On
this list we see it time and time again. 
I wonder if there is a connection.

Do we want to "freeze" the world in a static taxonomy? 
Do we want to "stabilize" and "stop the cluetrain"?
Are "Controlled Vocabularies" just one sign of the "Anal" side of being an IA?

I hope we can deal with the other side of the coin too, or we will surely
become obsolete faster than you can say "ontology"!

Best - and hope that I havn't insulted too many IAs out there....

:-)

Gunnar Langemark
gunnar at langemark.com