News Item: Updated 26th February 2007.

jobsworth by Graham Liddicoat, Senior Consultant

Language Timothy!

The English language is such an evocative medium, as can be demonstrated by the following extracts from “A Visitor’s Guide to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly” by Rita Pope.

“This narrow, exciting lane to Talland Bay, past the Measured Nautical Mile, cannot be hurried. St Tallan church stands proudly at the top of a precipitous hill leading to the beach – with its strange pink-grey rocks and grey stony sand. Another climb leads to Sclerder Abbey, a gracious, peaceful Carmelite Monastery near the A387.”

“Motorists can enter Polperro by the A387, but the roads were made for horses and it is preferable to park outside the village during the summer – a horsebus ride to the bottom of the hill is a pleasant mode of travel.”

The language used throughout the book evokes a feelings of a bygone era, may be 1950s or perhaps the 1960s. It was therefore a little surprising to note that the book was only published in 1983, just 23 years ago.

Last August I wrote an article entitled “Words mean so much” and I believe that the advice I gave in that article bears repeating.

Whenever putting pen to paper it should be remembered that words have the power to communicate so much more than their literal meaning. This is especially true when writing a CV or letter of application for a job. From the tone; the phrasing and the language used the reader will get an impression of the writer, good or bad, which will ultimately sway their decision as to that particular candidate.

So, before you send your next CV to a prospective employer ask yourself; “What do the words and phrases I have used really say about me?”

If you’re still unsure after this then perhaps you need to talk to a Career Consultant. Maybe Timothy could help you!

All previous News Articles are available from Suzan Freeman, please e-mail Suzan for a list of articles: suzanfreeman@btconnect.com