It may sound simple at first look, the jargons “situation,” and “utilise,” phrases that have survived over time and still sound fresh, but little did we know that they are among the group of vocabularies that takes on a new air even as they evolve. Their seeming permanence could also be attributed to the origin of the noun, “situation” and the verb, “utilise.” In the thinking of the English purists and masters, “The expansion of human knowledge that has taken place since the 15th century has forced us into specialisation…it is hardly surprising, therefore, that a species of vocabulary has developed which reflects the specialist nature of modern knowledge. One definition of jargon is ‘a mode of speech familiar to a particular group or profession but not generally understood outside that group.’
That is why a layman, for example, would not bother reading a scientific article on the latest discoveries in science or technology because of his inability to understand the terminology used. It is often reasoned that jargons are used to maintain the mystique of a job or profession, to set it apart from the ‘ordinary.’ Some of us are however, guilty of this at some time or the other, especially those of us who are not in the field of science or scientific writers. We use words not to communicate, but to sound impressive, observed one of the language masters. Which takes us back to ” situation” and “utilise,” our subject in focus. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines it as “place, with its surroundings, occupied by something (house stands in a fine situation); set of circumstances, position in which one finds oneself (come out of a difficult situation with credit..’
Quoting one of the purists. Chambers 21st Century Dictionary define “situation” as a set of circumstances or state of affairs. A place, position or location. A job, employment; and so one can correctly write; situation vacant.” The dictionary added another dimension, that the noun, “situation,” taken from the verb, “situate,” is a critical point in the action of a play or in the development of a plot of a novel.” Thus we have situation comedy often broadcast on radio or television, as series of episodes in which the same characters appear in more or less the same surroundings, and which depends for its humour on the behaviour of the characters in particular. Shortened to sitcom- recall Ken Saro Wiwa’s hilarious sitcom, ‘Bassey and Company Who wants to be a millionaire.’ “Situation,” an English pragmatist, observed, has now been reduced to a ridiculous level.
“Situation,” he insists, is frequently seen in the company of nouns, masquerading as adjectives when there is really no call for it to be around at all. He cited this example, “These tests may be administered in a class room situation,” means nothing more than, “These tests may be administered in the classroom.” What business has “situation” to do here, he wonders! The verb, “utilise” which means no more than “use,” is among the other pseudo- impressive words in vogue, an author of the Queen’s English, laments. From the adjective “utilitarian,” intended to be useful rather than beautiful, concerned too much with usefulness and not enough with beauty, Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, emphasises. It is a school of thought in philosophy- ethics, a set of values based on the belief that an action is morally right if it benefits the majority of people.
Again, the noun “utility,” usefulness, practicality- has now taken a different dimension entirely, that we now speak of “utilising every opportunity that comes one’s way to make money.” Utilise, according to the language enthusiasts, “Has become too firmly rooted that it now seems likely to remain with us for much longer than it deserves.” There are other jargons, such as “parameter, profile” etc. Keep a date.
