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File 13 and similar professional metalanguage - a diversionary thread for coffee breaks

In a recent thread file 13 was mentioned as the only fit filing place for an inadequate EICR, meaning put it the bin, and the expression not being recognized.

Rather than clutter that rather serious and already burgeoning thread with a side track, some thoughts in a new diversionary thread of more marginal value.

Files of that sort do not really exist in the modern paperless office. Oddly though, paper certainly does.

I think regions have their own meta-language "the round cabinet" is another I have heard but only in the south and the forms of words to be used are not properly agreed at a national level.

So what ?  you may well ask having read this far.

Well I am wondering if perhaps those in charge of standardization mission creep might like to consider whether or not  '7671 needs an "approved language" annex (informative, not normative at least initially) to harmonize this sort of thing and minimize confudlemenet .   - an April first  addenda ?

We need to avoid the terrible waste of professional chargeable time associated with misunderstandings at the level of  the Yes Minister sketch where Hacker fails to use the correct acronym " CGSM"(*) but instead writes  'Round Objects!"  as a review comment, and the reply coming back  'who is Round, and to what does he object ?' 

So I have some ideas for things that could be in such a document.

There are also various codes for things that are not officially happening that could be harmonised at the same time.

' A Home Office Job' - I 'm taking this home when I have fixed it ....

'Skunkworks/skonkworks' a place where stuff is happening outside the normal QA (and perhaps H and S) provision.

'U99' - from my German colleagues - something big and dangerous below the waterline, i.e. a project not seen by upper management, but maybe a pet of the more local chaps. It only surfaces if successful. - well as it happens sir we have been looking into something that may be useful....

Then there are is a profusion of  unregulated 'in house' fault descriptions.

" Blenth' a fuse or similar of at least 30A rating, has let go in explosive manner  e..g. ' it went blenth for some reason'

"Throbulate" - one phase is missing on something that does not appreciate it. ' the motor was throbulating loudly but not spinning'

" Squegging' turning itself on and off at a supersonic rate

"weebling" making a funny noise.

'sprogs' unexpected RF/ fast pulse outputs.

'Snackle' Someone has let the HT out....

etc..

what would you want to see in an annex of approved terms ?

M.

(*) That refernce

Bernard Woolley : Oh, fine. So we can CGSM it.

James Hacker : CGSM?

Bernard Woolley : Civil service code. It stands for Consignment of Geriatric Shoe Manufacturers. Load of old cobblers, Minister.

James Hacker : I'm not a civil servant. I shall use my own code. I shall write "Round objects".

  • I tend to use the term 'put it in the write only file'.

  • Mike may be familiar with pongo lingo, but I am fairly fluent in Jack speak.

    So something which is beyond useful service might be float tested.

  • Ah I know a little Jack speak - my dad was a Merchant Navy sparks before settling down, albeit half a century ago, so I ken some phases 'lost overboard in heavy weather' and   ' full to the gunwales' etc.

    (Plus a few pithy expressions to be used to express various levels of disappointment after a technical failure, but that would be a restricted annex for over 18s I think)


    Pongo ?  Maybe I use a bit but  there are a few where I work for whom it is 2nd language.


    M.

    (Pongo Pongo is the Latin for Orangutan, and used by other sections of HM forces to refer to the Army. Or maybe it is a comment on the doubtful quality of some field washing facilities.)

  • The File 13 comment was used locally to me by office types in the travel industry and also in textiles. How local and therefore not widespread I have no idea, never having worked in an office myself.

    The number 13 might reflect the great usage in times gone by of dozens, dozen this, dozen that, dozens of the other - usually 12 but in bakers terms might be 13. So perhaps they categorised things into 12 useful files and the remaining useless file was number 13 the litter bin. Just my guess.

    Dozens were common in my youth, in fact my Grandad used to ask a question that foxed a lot of thought (one of his "old chestnuts") , written down it looks simple but verbally, not a slow speed but a slightly faster than normal speech, ask someone "Which is greater, six dozendozen or half a dozen dozen?" . It`s amazing how many folks got it wrong when spoken.

    His other favourite was, again spoken speedily not written "If a brick weighs seven pounds and half a brick then  what does a brick and a half weigh?" Say it all in one sentence with no commas and loadsa folk get it wrong.

    Sorry, back to the plot, I guess there might be different expressions in different localities and in different industries

  • Sparky

    Drive-by

    The Schemes

    5 week wonder

    Badger

  • Badger

    Grin