I've attached the writing assignment in which I will be revising In this unit's Writer's Journal, spend time practicing saying why your writing matters. Thinking about the piece you are currently revi
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Roderick Hooks
EN 105: Major Writing Assignment 2
September 6, 2019
The purpose of this writing assignment is to explain to the audience the difficulties of switching from the language of my job in the United States Army to the language I use now in the civilian sector. There are many difficulties switching lanaguages and being able to explain those difficulities is an honor. The challegnes I face while writing this essay is trying to encompass all the difference and challenges within this assignment. Possessing the ability to adapt quickly from the two langauages is a absolute requirement. I hope to recevieve feedback to help improve my essay, writing ability, and for my instructor to fully understand my description of the two languages.
Roderick Hooks
EN 105: Major Writing Assignment 2
September 6, 2019
“Sorry, I don’t understand”
Sorry, I don’t understand is a common phrase I hear when trying to explain situations in the civilian sector, mainly because of the difficulties of switching languages. Serving in the Army allowed me to learn its unique language, which includes a plethora of acronyms, and small phrases in which everyone understands, for example the word “tracking” is used by Soldiers to relay to anyone that we understand whatever they’re talking about. Transitioning from the Military to a Civilian was hard to overcome, at times I would have to recite what I wanted to say in my head, and then civilianize it as much as I can, so I can be properly understood.
Veterans have a tough time switching languages going into the civilian sector, from completely reformatting our resumes and replacing any Military verbiage with it’s civilian meaning, and then when speaking in a conference or just a meeting, the way a veteran explains a situation is more talored towoards a mission, for example I was briefing or having a meeting with my team, and I had to discuss the overall projections of productiviity. This was the first time a language barrier was present at my current job, my meeting was well planned and organized but usage of phrases such as “get with your leadership so they can relay a plan of action” had to be rephrased to “get with your supervisor if you have any questions” . I have a few member of my team that are also members of the veteran community, that understand me when I speak or relay any information, but just like over 80% of the associates don’t understand me, they also don’t understand the few in my community.
My communtiy use a unique concept that most civilians arent exposed to. Some of us are self explanotory while others are very cyrtic, but each have a specific and important meaning. The language my communtiy uses is a biproduct of how we are trained and how we effectiviely communicate to each other. I feel the civilian sector doesn’t quite understand that we as a community are trained 24/7 for years upon years on how to communciate, so when we transition it should be more of a open are welcome rather than having us change the way that makes us who we are. Some common misudersatanding include not hiring one of us because of the perceived disconnect between us, normally thinking we are strict and walk around yelling our military language. The sterotyping is very real and needs to end, because the veteran communtiy are willing to change the way we communicate, because we are trained to adapt and communicate to achieve a common goal, so by allowing us to be us will improve the transition of the two languages.
My communtity values communciation a lot, without communication we feel lost and betrayed, because we must know whats going on at all times. When communicating we like to use less words with more meaning to limit the time of talking to increase the time of action. Ludwig Wittgenstein quote “ the limits of my language mean the limits of my world” really touched me deep because I felt the same at one point. When he stated this he meant that outside of what he could understand in regards to his language, is the limit to his understanding, for example is what he knows is what he knows, nothing else. His statement really had myself exploring more outside of my language to really prepare myself for the civilian world, so I wouldn’t find myself in the limits of my language.
Overall, the language barrier between the civilian sector and military has been a challenge, but they both have their similarities when it comes to basic communication, but the key is to ensure your way of relaying any information would be well received by the other community, don’t every assume that they understand what you’re referring to or you will be in for a surprise.
