OMG, what is happening to our language?

Common workplace language has changed over the last decade. Perhaps our fast moving technology era has forced us to react quicker than we can think. We certainly have learned to abbreviate communication to the shortest possible character when we write, text, and even speak. But everything seems to be moving in that direction. Sometimes, I don’t even know what people are saying but others are laughing, so I L.O.L. too.

Lately, I have also noticed that in some workplaces, profanity is a norm. I have been guilty of a trucker mouth myself, but I am trying to contain it, especially at work. But, I have heard stories of workplaces where swearing is part of the everyday conversations with customers and staff. Maybe if this language style is the norm for all parties it could be acceptable, but it still comes out sounding aggressive and insulting no matter how many people are using profanity at work.

Tone is also a big part of language; how words come out can be considered sarcasm, the lowest form of wit. Perhaps we should take a moment to consider the ramifications in the workplace, before we swear, insult, or throw out sarcastic remarks. Seems people no longer take the time to think about asking thoughtful questions, being polite, listening, and making eye contact with customers and co-workers. Instead, we bark orders, and pay more attention to our phones vibrating texts than we do to the people we are with.

Language is now based on physical characters on a keyboard; the shorter the better. The world is changing and we all need to change with it, but I hope we can still find a way to connect with people, communicate with each other face to face, wait for an answer to a question, put our personal devices aside for a moment, and treat each other with respect.

As we learn to communicate at the speed of text or tweet, I hope we don’t lose the value of respectful language. If we can continue to think before we say something rude, abrupt, or out of context, our workplaces and our personal lives might be happier places to be. Next time we abbreviate something, perhaps we should take a quick look at it, to see if the word has other meanings in that form.
Although, one abbreviation I’ll never mix up is K.D.; I think I’ll make a box for lunch.