Some Language Outlives Technology

Technology changes fast… but language? Not so much. We still use expressions every day that made sense decades ago but now sound hilarious—or confusing. Some phrases are gone, some are fading, and some will outlive us all. The problem is that when you give instructions to a different generation, the language you use can be highly confusing.

How do you explain the term “clockwise” to someone who has only ever owned a digital watch? Why do we still say “roll up the car window” when most people use a button? Or “dial a number” when there is no dial? We still “film a video” when there’s no film. And “don’t touch that dial”—what dial? Try telling a twenty-year-old, “You sound like a broken record,” and watch the confusion.

The majority of teenagers and college students have no idea how to drive a car with a gear shift and clutch. If you said, “Put your foot on the clutch,” many wouldn’t have a clue what you meant. The same is true with phrases like “rewind the tape,” “collect call,” or “hang up the phone.” Hang it where? On what?

Most employees won’t admit they don’t understand. They’ll smile, nod, and hope to figure it out later. That’s when mistakes happen. What if, in a meeting, you said, “Well, that’s a horse of a different color.” You know it means a completely different matter—but do they? Do they know “barking up the wrong tree” means pursuing the wrong course of action, or “burning the midnight oil” means working late?

The same confusion happens with acronyms. People throw them around, assuming everyone knows what they mean. Yet many acronyms carry double meanings: PC, IT, CEO, CPA, LOL, BRB, GPS, RAM, USB.

For any leader or organization, success depends on clarity. We live in a wireless, AI-powered, cloud-connected world, but some words haven’t caught up. Remember: just because people nod or don’t ask questions doesn’t mean they fully understand. Choose your words wisely, keep them simple, and define your acronyms. For your message to be effective, it must be completely understood.