Do you have any idea what “boiling the ocean” means? If you’re confused, you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by Duolingo and LinkedIn, many professionals around the world were unfamiliar with this office jargon. The survey, which involved 8,000 professionals from eight different countries, found that “boiling the ocean” was the most confusing term for workers in the United States and Australia.
Hope Wilson, a senior learning and language curriculum expert at Duolingo, explained that the complexity of business language is dependent on where you work. While the most common definition of “boiling the ocean” is taking on a task that is too large or ambitious to be reasonable, Wilson shared an example from a lawyer friend who described it as exhaustively researching case law to provide thorough support for a specific argument. So, the interpretation of jargon can vary from company to company.
The survey also revealed the most confusing business terms in different countries. In the United States, the top three were “boiling the ocean,” “herding cats,” and “ducks in a row.” The United Kingdom had “blue sky thinking,” “COP/EOP/EOD,” and “low-hanging fruit” as their top confusing terms. In India, it was “keep me in the loop,” “take offline,” and “win-win situation.” Australia had “boiling the ocean,” “noodling,” and “low-hanging fruit” as their most confusing terms. Brazil, Colombia, Japan, and Vietnam also had their own sets of confusing terms.
Interestingly, English-language buzzwords were prevalent even in countries where English is not the dominant language. This is because English serves as a global lingua franca for international communication. Professionals use jargon not to intentionally confuse their colleagues, but to fit in and showcase their proficiency in English. Acronyms are often cited as confusing culprits because they require knowledge of foreign words and concepts.
However, the goal should not be to eliminate jargon entirely. Certain terms, like “boiling the ocean,” have become efficient shorthand within specific industries or regions. These terms convey complex concepts with maximum fluency and minimum time. While jargon can be useful for those familiar with it, it can also create barriers for those who don’t understand it.
In conclusion, it’s important to be mindful that not everyone may be familiar with the jargon you use. Even if you think your colleague understands what you’re saying, they may actually be completely bewildered. Effective communication requires clarity and consideration for others’ understanding.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
