atw: Re: SEC: UNCLASS Frameworks
- From: "SUNTER Bede" <Bede_SUNTER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 17:37:56 +1000
Howard,
Let me start by saying: I know how you feel.
Myself, I take issue with 'weak' words, especially weak verbs like
'identify' and 'address'.
"At the meeting, a number of issues were identified and addressed" -- we
didn't actually do anything but we sure addressed those issues we
identified ...
Now here's the problem: it's all very well to pet-hate the words, but as
an editor, what are you going to do about them?
There seems to be no substitute for the word 'framework' in its
bureaucratic context. It means (AFAICS) a loose amalgamation of
policies, procedures, projects and people that will attempt to blunder
its way, more or less systematically, through a maze of red tape, petty
tyrannies and funding cuts. If you, as a fully qualified and righteous
TC can't think of a better word than 'framework' then can you reasonably
expect others to? If you can, then you are entitled, nay, honour-bound,
to provide it to your audience.
You were on the right track with the question you put in your post:
'what on earth is this sentence really *about*?'
As a professional writer, that's the question you answer on behalf of
your readers.
-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Silcock, Howard
DR
Sent: Friday, 24 June 2005 14:13 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: SEC: UNCLASS Frameworks
Since I've been documenting questionable usage in technical writing,
I've been noticing those moments in editing when I detect words with no
real meaning, or words that may once have had a meaning but now just add
a hint of something more, like a bay leaf in a casserole. I find myself
staring at the text, straining to answer the question 'what on earth is
this sentence really *about*?'. It's a bit like coming across a word in
a foreign language that looks familiar but escapes my understanding.
For me, one word that provokes this reaction is 'framework'. I just came
across a sentence in a Human Resources Plan that boldly declared 'A
Divisional learning and development framework will be implemented to
better meet the needs of our employees and to provide a more cost
effective and efficient service.'
I tried to visualise something concrete that you might see when those HR
people had achieved their goal. What would this 'framework' look like
when it had been 'implemented'? Was it something you could touch or see?
Perhaps it'd be diagram on a piece of paper - or on a PowerPoint slide?
Or a list of proposals (on a PowerPoint slide)? Or would I actually see
trainers and trainees, overhead projectors and bowls of mints -
employees actually learning and being 'developed'?
I couldn't help thinking that the last image wasn't what the authors
were committing themselves to. (Maybe they would have liked to, but knew
there wasn't the funding.)
Is there a word for words like this, that suggest action and achievement
but actually promise almost nothing?
Howard
-------------------------------
Howard L. Silcock
Technical Writer
Project Office - Infrastructure
Department of Defence
(02) 626 58828
-------------------------------
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