{"id":16986,"date":"2024-09-24T13:59:08","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T11:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unequity.com\/4-impulse-zum-thema-sprache\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T09:55:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T08:55:36","slug":"4-reflections-on-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unequity.com\/en\/4-reflections-on-language\/","title":{"rendered":"4 reflections on language"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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For more clarity...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Language is a part of our daily lives. As communications experts, we want to take a closer look at this topic, and provide you with some thoughts for reflection on language and understanding. Today, we want to explore how language is changing, and explain our position on the clarity of terminology.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Let\u2019s go!
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Reflection 1\u2014Language is always changing <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Language is dynamic. It is constantly changing and developing through use. For years, linguists have observed two trends:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

  1. Changes in language through internationalization<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
  2. Specialized technical languages<\/strong>\u2014where English is predominant<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    But what does this mean? Both trends lead to a simplification of sentence structure and grammar. At the same time, new words are introduced to our vocabulary. The latest research shows that the German language now has 5.3 million words, including adapted words from other languages. With increasing globalization, language is becoming more multilingual.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    If the only goal of language is to promote understanding, it becomes more functional, often shorter, and, according to strict criteria, more often \u2018incorrect.\u2019 The limits of this unrestricted use of language can be seen when we use terminology relevant to concepts and processes that require a shared understanding. In this case, we need clarity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Reflection 2\u2014English, Denglish, or maybe just German <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    In the business world, English is considered the universally understood Unicode. And even in German conversations and writing, English terms are no longer uncommon. But are we using the correct English terms or pseudo-anglicisms\u2014as in the case of the German word Handy<\/strong> for cell phone?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Or are we using \u201cDenglish,\u201d meaning an English term that is used in Germany with a completely different meaning. Such as saying, \u201cIch bin heute im Home Office<\/b>\u201d to mean, \u201cI\u2019m working from home<\/b> today.\u201d In America, the term is generally used to describe the room in your house or apartment where you\u2019ve set up your office. In the UK<\/b>, the Home Office is what our American<\/b> friends call their \u201cDepartment of Homeland Security.<\/b>\u201d No wonder our British friends are confused when we say we are working today in the Home Office!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    In the world of business consulting, sometimes a newly-coined word becomes something of a hallmark, i.e., \u201cwords you own\u201d as a strategy to differentiate your company from competitors. This is totally fine, as long as the meaning is clear to the person you are talking to, and it does not detract from clarity. But why do we sometimes find it so difficult to call some things by their actual name?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    IReflection 3 \u2013 Calling a spade a spade\u2014an example from a client project <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Communicating simply, clearly, and accurately is our specialty and our top priority. Our approach is:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\tSimple doesn\u2019t mean simplistic. Clear doesn\u2019t mean blunt. Accurate doesn\u2019t mean pedantic.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    As a communication and consultancy agency for Human Resources projects, we communicate complex issues. In our customer projects, we must sometimes untangle language confusion. If there is no common understanding, there can be no meaningful communication.\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>

    Let\u2019s take the word \u201cGrading\u201d as an example. You can test this by entering the following sentence into Google, Perplexity, or another search engine, \u201cWhat is Grading?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    The results were interesting, weren\u2019t they? We assume that in the HR context, Grading is generally understood, but what if the term is simply used in communications with various target audiences as a technical term, without any description or explanation?<\/span>
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    Let\u2019s try that out!\u00a0\u00a0
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    If you speak German, read these two sentences and answer the question. Which is easier to understand? The German-English mix, or plain German?*<\/strong><\/span>
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    Do you get it now?
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    A<\/strong>
    Unsere<\/span> Job <\/span>Architektur<\/span> und <\/span>unsere<\/span> Gradinglogik<\/span> sind<\/span> elementare<\/span> Bestandteile<\/span> unseres<\/span> fairen<\/span> und <\/span>transparenten<\/span> Compensation Systems.<\/span><\/span>
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    B<\/strong>
    Unsere Stellenarchitektur und unsere Stellenbewertungslogik sind elementare Bestandteile unseres fairen und transparenten Verg\u00fctungssystems. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    *If you don\u2019t speak German, here\u2019s a short explanation. Using the English terms, and at times a mix of English and German, such as \u201cGradinglogik,\u201d is generally more difficult for those unfamiliar with the technical HR terms.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Why do we sometimes make things unnecessarily complicated?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>

    So, why the preference for the English term \u201cGrading<\/b>,\u201d which a lot of people won\u2019t immediately understand?\u00a0<\/span>There are two reasons for this, in our opinion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    1. Some specialist English terms lack a concise German translation. If you must include a long explanation <\/b>of a term, and the approximate German translation, you might raise questions that aren\u2019t easy to answer. You may decide to stick with the English term, even with the risk of an inconsistent understanding (and incorrect use.)<\/span>

      \u00a0<\/p><\/li>

    2. With the German word \u201cStellenbewertung,\u201d meaning \u201cGrading<\/b>,\u201d there\u2019s another reason for caution. In the word \u201cStellenbewertung,\u201d we find the words \u201cWert\u201d or \u201cWertung,\u201d meaning \u201cvalue<\/b>\u201d or \u201cevaluation\/judgment<\/b>.\u201d In German, both words have a slightly judgmental connotation. The word \u201cWert\u201d is generally positive, but when used in relation to a person, it can imply the value of a person. And this is where it gets tricky. In the word \u201cWertung,\u201d this is even more pronounced because it is the equivalent of a judgment. As in a sport such as the long jump, when we talk of a \u201cWertung\u201d of work performance, it is an assessment, and can be seen therefore as judgmental.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

      Note<\/b>: With the upcoming European Pay Transparency Directive<\/b>, the topic of grading and remuneration will become even more critical. It\u2019s worth ensuring clarity now. We would be happy to advise you, so don\u2019t hesitate to get in touch.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Reflection 4: Our understanding of language <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Language always contains connotations or associations. These vary depending on the individual, location, region, and country\u2014and that\u2019s a fact. What we can do is explain the terms so that everyone understands them. This creates transparency, comprehension, and, ultimately, trust. As communicators, this is our core competency. In the interest of our customers and their employees.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

      We are translators of specialist terms and human understanding, and our goal is to create trust through excellent communication.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>

      We started our series on the HR Jargon Jungle<\/b> some time ago to bring precisely this clarity. You can follow the series on LinkedIn<\/a>. If you are struggling with a specific example of HR jargon, let us know, and we\u2019ll include it in a future post. We look forward to discussing language with you \u2013 either in a public setting, or in an individual meeting, if you prefer.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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