Friday, February 5, 2010
VAGUE & AMBIGUOUS
Vague sentences usually use the words like “this,” “it,” or “which” for example that don’t have any reference to a specific word or phrase, instead is referring to a whole situation. We are accustomed to vague statements in verbal conversations and these statements are often unnoticed by the recipients and senders. However, vague statements can be very confusing when reading it in writing. I often find it interesting how the bad habits and laziness we have grown into in our conversations has found its way into our writing. From my experience in communicating through public relations it has become such a norm to use it in day-to-day conversation; sometimes the author doesn’t realize they have snuck into their work. An example of a vague sentence that I have encountered lately is a phrase that has become a norm for the American culture. The phrase is the Nike slogan “just do it.” When this slogan came out years ago, Nike had to make sure to explain the statement. Nike had to make sure to give the word “it” implied context with the image in the ad. “Just do it” is a very vague sentence, if someone read this and was unfamiliar with the Nike brand they would be very confused and unsure of what exactly they were just supposed to do.
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I always thought the Nike slogan was some sort of carpe diem saying, like when someone doesn't know if they should do something or not, the Nike commercial comes on TV and tells them, "Just do it", Like one of those voices from the heavens that booms out a commandment to the people. That's also why TV is my favorite because when I watch TV, it tells me what to do. I don't have to think, I can chill. It doesn't judge me and I don't have to judge it. I can just relax and let the TV tell me about what is good and what is bad.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that we as a culture have gotten so used to vague statements being used every day that we don't notice them anymore, and then give the Nike "motto" as an example. The motto is something that is in the public eye a good amount, and many people use the term, without recognizing how vague it is.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I still see that, in some situations, using vague statements is much more powerful than being direct. This allows the audience to interpret the statement on their own. Let's take the "Just do it" motto, for example. Nike intends for the statement to be vague, because they don't want to limit the audience's thought of what "it" is. They say "Just do it," with the aspirations that the consumer will go accomplish something they've always wanted to accomplish (the "it").
Just putting my two cents in. Whether people agree with me or not, if they have an opinion to post, "just do it."