Jargonomics

  • Posted by Ross
  • 24 June 2008

There’s been a raft of articles recently regarding management-speak and other jargon, which I’ve found vaguely amusing… I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard bosses talk about “leveraging” and “granularity”. But today, after hearing it *so* many times, I just had to vent my spleen about another piece of mangled English.

I am, of course, referring to the ghastly “Can I get…?”; usually when ordering a triple-skinny-mocha-caramel-latté.

Aaaarrgh! If I was the attendant/server, my tongue would be black and blue. Yes, you can “get”, but only if you ask properly. “May I have…?” is more than suitable, and contains the same number of syllables.

It’s not big, it’s not clever - and could possibly get you killed.

Especially if I hear you say it again.

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June 24th, 2008
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
adrian
Posted on:
24 June 2008 at 11:58 pm

Drives me mad! I wish all shopkeepers and cafe assistants would just reply “no, you can’t get it… that’s my job” :)

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Steve Dix
Posted on:
25 June 2008 at 9:53 am

Being out of the English-speaking loop somewhat, I was initially confused. I thought that “Can I get…” was what the shop assistant should be saying, rather than the customer.

The one that drives me up the wall is…

“How are you?” “I’m good!”

Good?! Good at what?

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
IanM
Posted on:
18 August 2008 at 4:17 pm

Unfortunately, “Can I get..” is yet another phrase from across the pond, and, no doubt, this will be another example of how the incorrect use of language becomes so widespread that it becomes acceptable.

Another example of this, is how people speak in degrees of “unique-ness”. Something is either unique or it isn’t. It can’t be “very unique”!