A new magazine, creatively titled "Business English Magazin" was recently launched in Germany for people who want to improve their Business English skills. I discovered the second issue by chance and, as a teacher of English as a foreign language, decided to order the first issue to see if it might be a useful resource for my teaching.
At the back of the first issue was an article which seemed to be the first of a series entitled: "Room 101". This issue's theme "I Haven't Got an Ology". Obviously a play on words to the old BT adverts with Maureen Lipman. The contents seem to fit in well with this module so (at risk of damaging anyone's copyright - but it is for educational purposes) here is the article:
"Scurrying through the hallowed cloisters in gown and mortarboard in the historic and noble seat of learning, otherwise knwon as Oxford, a bright young thing hurries to his award ceremony. Which college does he attend? I haven't got a clue. It could be anyone of Balliol, Corpus Christi, Magdalen (pronounced Mordlin), St. Hilda's or Trinity. You see, it really doesn't matter because the boy's got an ology. Which ology? Don't ask me; it could be biology , theology, philosophy, anthropology or even gerontology, but even so, it proves that he studied something thoroughly and painstakingly by analysing the theories within. Why do I care? Because I'm on the Room 101 warpath. The thing is, I haven't got a clueology how such a simple word became corrupted. Probably, as usual, it was formed by a personology trying to impressology somebodyology. Have I gone mad? Perhaps, but it's driving me round the bend, and I will need to investigate how a normal word was usurped by the robes of academia.
My wayward word for today's Room 101 target practice is the pretentious imposter, methodology. Granted, it has a legitimate use in describing the study of methods, for that's just what it is, but sadly, this aristocratic word has been kidnapped by its ruffian brother, method. Method was so drably attired that, thinking that nobody would take him seriously he donned the fine, lacy clothing of his more refined sibling while his smarter, older brother was out receiving awards.Now method struts around like a peacock, saying affectedly that he doesn't use a method to do something but a methodology; that's certainly a feather in his cap. At least that's what my research methodology revealed. But I see you are tiring from this tale and already weary of superfluous ologies - please accept my apologies. And now for a just punishment; in true British public school tradition, methodology will receive a sound thrashing in the form of six of the best and then be expelled from school. Ruthless discipline is the only way to uphold standards."
As I am only in the UK occasionally I can't really comment on this. Is the word "methodology" being abused like this is or is the author overreacting? All feedback is appreciated.
Source.
George Sandford, Business English Magazin, Ausgabe 6/2012. www.business-english-magazin.de
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen