answered question
0
Votes
Votes
3
Answers
Answers
M$0.00
Can you adequately define a word by using it in the definition? (ie Responsibility: to be responsible ...)
Our company came up with a set of values and a few have definitions like Responsibility to be responsible for maintaining a high level of achievement and trust.
Can you get away with this? In school I always told not to do this.
Can you get away with this? In school I always told not to do this.
answers (3)
Again, I'm going to sound cynical (re: other answers), but it's a real phenomenon: companies seeing other companies doing "new" things like making "mission statement" and all that other "feel-good" stuff are just trying not to get left behind, looking like yesterday's jam (watch the "IT Crowd" :-)
So, the result is that it's more important to HAVE a set of values than for that set of values to have some meaningful effect on the company; thus, the people charged with creating these things usually do a pretty lame job, but everyone's happy because "hey, at least we HAVE a set of values".
This phenomenon (do it because you're expected to, not because it brings you value) isn't unique to companies; it's human behavior. ;-)
Anyway, to answer your question, defining a word in the context of one of its variants is indeed nonsense if the goal is elucidation.
So, the result is that it's more important to HAVE a set of values than for that set of values to have some meaningful effect on the company; thus, the people charged with creating these things usually do a pretty lame job, but everyone's happy because "hey, at least we HAVE a set of values".
This phenomenon (do it because you're expected to, not because it brings you value) isn't unique to companies; it's human behavior. ;-)
Anyway, to answer your question, defining a word in the context of one of its variants is indeed nonsense if the goal is elucidation.
| Asker's rating: |
Cheers! FWIW, when doing this sort of thing (writing mission statements) it's important to try to avoid "junk" words which don't add any meaning, so in your example "Responsibility: to be responsible for maintaining a high level of achievement and trust", achievement is a different type of goal than earning trust, so it belongs elsewhere; that makes the goal simpler (less verbose), and easier for employees to "embrace" (instead of "shun and mock" as is often the case, speaking from personal experience). ;-)
Tip bernz for this comment
|
Report
If you want to use the word itself in its definition, then the best bet is to use the derivation of its parts. Check out the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, which will give you some derivation, then take those derivations if you wish, and go further (for some extreme but perhaps "geeky") info, to the American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
When trying to define a word, it doesn't make sense to use the word in the definition because then you still haven't explained the meaning of the word.
However, in the context of your situation, the company may be assuming that the definition is well known, and they are defining how the word relates to their business practices.
This is somewhat justifiable, but it is still repetitive and there is no reason to use the same word twice, so it should be avoided.
However, in the context of your situation, the company may be assuming that the definition is well known, and they are defining how the word relates to their business practices.
This is somewhat justifiable, but it is still repetitive and there is no reason to use the same word twice, so it should be avoided.
140 characters left
ask any question
