Quick question for native speakers

[arwen_lune]

Quick question for the native speakers here...

"we investigate (blah blah) and leverage this knowledge into the research and development (...blah)"

Is this a correct use of 'leverage'? It feels very awkward to me. As far as I know leverage is not a verb and can't be used this way, but certain people in this company are very fond it and want it in a company brochure

Comments

[gmh.livejournal.com]

They're idiots and should be shot for the good of humanity.

It's Merkin droid-speak - the sort of language used by suit-wearing types whose vocabulary is so limited that they don't know the verb 'to exploit'.

[arwen-lune.livejournal.com]

thanks Gideon. I'm leaving it out in my proposal for the text and if anyone misses it then we'll talk :-)

Cheers,
Arwen

[(Anonymous)]

What's wrong with "...use this knowledge..."?

It sounds like the bumpf-writer wants to say "We investigated (things) and crammed the findings any old how into our R&D just to look good" Or at least that's how I interpret it.

[xkylet.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with "...use this knowledge..."?

It sounds like the bumpf-writer wants to say "We investigated (things) and crammed the findings any old how into our R&D just to look good" Or at least that's how I interpret it.

[hippo22.livejournal.com]

"lever" is correct rather than "leverage" but it's very clumsy

[seyren]

Hrm, www.dict.cc does list leverage as a verb. Might be a neologism though, no clue.

[(Anonymous)]

It's a horrible American-bullshitism, but no - that doesn't read right even for that horrible usage.

Every use of "leverage" I see as a verb is missing a subject - it would normally be something like:

"We investigate (blahblah) and leverage this knowledge. Our Research and development group take the knowledge so obtained and maximise the synergies realised with their internal R&D work"

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go and gargle bleach. I feel unclean.

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Very ugly reshape-a-word-into-something-it's-not-so-as-to-sound-intelligent use that has been common in the IT world for 20+ years. Have always thought it made the writer look stupid and lazy, but this has become so prevalent as to be accepted. Hate it when mangling the language is viewed as forward-thinking.

Loved last poster's description, horrible American-bullshitism, for its eloquence as well as accuracy.

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

It is nasty American-business-speak and if you can possibly keep them from using it, do so!

[flexor.livejournal.com]

A document is not finished before it includes the phrase "Leverage synergy across the Enterprise".

*Evil Grin*

Reticulating Splines anyone?

[kelvix.livejournal.com]

It's management crap-speak. Like "down-sizing", it's nasty English. Leverage is a word that stems from the word "lever". Its meanings therefore extend to discussions over power advantage in financial terms.

Rather like using "utilise" when "use" would be perfectly adequate, it's an attempt not only to include as many syllables as possible, when fewer would do, but also to make the writer seem more intelligent/ intimidating/ sophisticated than the reader. It's got little to do with conveying meaning.

Perhaps the writer is trying to say that their injection of knowledge creates a positive debt/equity situation within the R&D department? It's still crap. But then again, who would be impressed by saying that "the knowledge is then used/invested to great advantage within the R&D department"? It's too easy. Some people like to be bewildered. Or perhaps the reader might not like to admit their ignorance... It's abuse of meaning - willy-waving with language,IMNSHO.

[chris-lock.livejournal.com]

Id like to re-inforce the statements other persons in this constituancy have made. By refabricating and obfiscuting the situation in hand. I would also like to put forward a proposal of action where we brainstorm the situation in hand until a solution is found. This should be fully documented.

Translates to:-

Its easy to talk corporate rubbish and avoid the question, how about we use some leverage on this persons head, may I suggest a crowbar being the optimum tool :)

*hugs*