The Tyranny of the TLA
I really hate how we insist on discussing everything of meaning by taking the first letters of the words and making an incomprehensible noise out of it.
[And no it’s not an acronym. An acronym is where it actually makes a new word, like SCUBA. What I’m talking about wastes energy, attention and dilutes the significance of our thoughts and feelings].
‘Jay-Snay’ is not a word, it’s not a helpful or informative way of discussing a needs analysis. Nor does calling something ‘Tea Lap’ help us truly understand what you’re actually all about. And referring to a government white paper as ‘Vee Pea’ ensures no one will ever know what it actually means. I’m going to focus on these three spectacularly annoying examples, but my point is far broader and points to an increasing trend of avoiding understanding what we are really talking about, even while we are talking.
And don’t tell me it saves time. What Rubbish.
What it does it does create a world where we never actually say out loud words that mean something, so we never wonder on a daily basis whether what we are doing really is in fact valuing anybody, or analysing anything, or acting personally.
It allows us to focus on the systems, processes, roles and structures constructed around what we’re doing, without keeping our eyes on the prize - whether we are actually doing it. It allows those who are heading up the Jay Snay to talk a lot about where they have got information from, how hard they have worked doing it, possibly how hard it is to get this sort of data in a city this big. And if we don’t hear the words Joint Strategic Needs Assessment in anything that they say, then we forget to wonder whether they have assessed the needs of the population in a joined up or at all strategic, or useful, way.
It creates an elitist and excluding way of talking about something, which removes the person talking from the meaning of what they are saying and glibly assumes a shallowing of the common ground, and sanitises the listeners from the core meaning of what they’re actually saying. Within the english language we should not be able to say “Well, now that the valuing people is over, we’re not sure where to focus next”, it’s not grammatically correct. You can if you call it Vee Pea instead, and no-one will question whether anyone is in fact valued more highly now than they were in 2001.
And when did ‘Signing up to ‘Tea Lap” ever result in anyone acting at all personally, well we never have to ask, because no-one I know remembers that it actually stands for ‘Think Local, Act Personal’. You can have a ‘Tea Lap’ conference anywhere and at any time you like. You would only need to wonder if 09:00 in the morning at somewhere hard to get to, with no refreshments, poor access and dense academic speeches is appropriate if you remember what it actually stands for. Clearly, they can’t. I suggest that if they said the real words out loud every day, they might think more about what they are doing.
Words matter. Words have real meaning. Changing the words we use can change our attitude and behaviour. Removing ourselves from the meaning of the words, ultimately, removes us from the purpose and volition that should lie behind our actions. Please. No-one is so busy that they don’t have time to say the words that really mean what it is they are trying to do.
We’ll be clearer about what it is we’re supposed to be doing, more accountable to ourselves and others, and it’s more likely we’ll ask the right questions and so know sooner if we’re actually doing it.
