When words take over
by Bernard McGrath, Inspection Validation Centre

Not too long ago, before the widespread use of e-mail, the postal strike would have played havoc with these articles. Even without a strike, I would have had to plan my deadlines carefully. I would have had to have them prepared sufficiently in advance to allow a couple of days for them to arrive at the Institute. I would have had to make allowances for Bank Holidays and other possible delays.
 
The first 'instant messenger' systems, such as the telegram and the telex, were not suited to anything other than short communications. So it was only with the advent of the fax machine that a faster and alternative mode of transmission to the postal system for transferring text became available. Like all new technology, the initial use of the fax system was limited. It was only to be used if the circumstances meant the post would not be quick enough. The fax was not an excuse for lack of planning! As a result, all faxes were marked 'URGENT', probably to justify sending the communication as a fax. You never just received a 'FAX', it was always an 'URGENT FAX'.

I have recently discovered that in the study of English language, the technical term to describe a common pairing of words, in this way, is called collocation. NDT must be an English student's dream because it not only contains many examples of acronyms (NDT, TOFD etc) and oxymorons (black light) but also has many examples of collocation. Some of these we hyphenate – pulse-echo, some we combine – backwall, some we leave as two words – flaw detector.

I hadn't really paid much attention to collocation until a recent newspaper article caught my eye. It had been written in response to the party conference season and gave an explanation of what it called 'confospeak'. But the language it described is used just as much in business as politics. It is amazing how so many words can no longer be used without an associated qualifying word. Urgent has dumped fax and has attached itself to action. So we only ever have urgent actions. Challenges are no longer just challenges, they are always exciting and new. We can't have concerns they have to be major and shared concerns. We face only tough decisions and engage only in detailed discussion. And, when things go wrong, we learn tough or harsh lessons, never easy ones.

These examples are from just the first half of the alphabet. Perhaps you can think up ones from the second half? The trouble with these examples of collocation is that they are insidious. They soon become a habit. And before you know it, you are unable to say a particular word without the accompanying one. They become automatic. All critical thought and assessment is abandoned. And, in the absence of any due consideration, the speaker believes they are relating the truth.

If you look around you will see lots of examples, particularly if you watch the news. Spokesmen can no longer provide objective descriptions of incidents. They launch into an immediate tirade of collocations:  …unpredictable events …unprecedented circumstances …tough decisions …lessons learnt. Even if these descriptions are representative of the situation, the spokesmen seem to ignore the fact that the people involved are probably both trained and paid to deal with such events and make such decisions.

So beware of collocations. When you encounter them, confront them. Ask, "Are the challenges really new?". Ask, "Have the lessons really been learnt?". Is the pairing really deserved or is it just a collocation?

But take care and maintain that critical thinking because some collocations can be very beneficial: …pay rise …Bank Holiday …happy hour …

Please note that the views expressed in this column are the author's own personal ramblings for the purpose of encouraging discussion within the NDT Newspaper. They do not represent the views of the IVC, Serco Assurance or the HSE who funded the PANI projects.

Letters can be mailed to The Editor, NDT News, 1 Spencer Parade, Northampton NN1 5AA. Fax: 01604 231489; E-mail: ndtnews@bindt.org or e-mail Bernard McGrath direct at Bernard.McGrath@sercoassurance.com