Bob,

Perhaps you should run your columns through some translation engine and have them (mis?)translated into other versions of "English," one each for England, India, Australia, and so on. That probably wouldn't satisfy Commenter, but it might amuse him or her.

Using linebacker as analogy is just as xenophobic as Canadians referring to a loveseat as a chesterfield.

Xenophobia indeed...

Bob--

I wonder what in your past postings has gotten your Commenter to view you as "xenophobic." Accusing you of "deliberately obfuscating" your column so as to make it unintelligible to foreign readers is hyperbole. By this logic, the common use in the UK of the term "boot" for the cargo compartment in a car is "deliberate obfuscation" by those dastardly Brits, instead of the common use of local slang. Please keep writing your columns just as you have in the past. As far as this (American) reader is concerned, they're fine specimens of clear, if occasionally idiomatic, English. The few times that some words might be confusing to an international audience, anyone of normal intelligence should still get value from them, without being completely hamstrung by one unfamiliar term.

I'm a third generation American and not entirely clear on the concept of "linebacker," as I don't follow the football/baseball/basketball triptych. Ask me about tap swings and Yurchenkos and kips, though.

But I have to wonder, what sort of IT person needs a metaphor for "buffer." It's a critical part of computing.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/buffer

The computer definition is 8.
The manager definition could be either 2 or 3, although 3 paints a more humorous picture.

"buffer" is a euphemism for "linebacker." ??

What? Where? How in the devil did this language-challenged nit ever come up with THAT idea?

I'm not a sports-minded person, so I have to look up linebacker, or take it from context. As long as you don't start using acronyms without spelling them out, I am willing to look up terms as needed in order to grok your columns.

To the original commenter/complainer: How about looking at the way Advice Line is written as a way to enrich your knowledge of English as used in the United States, instead of complaining about it being incomprehensible, which it clearly is not? I often read items by British or Australian writers who, even when writing about the US, throw in their own colloquialisms. Sometimes the meaning is clear from the context, at other times I head for Google. Regardless, I feel like I learned something after each encounter with a strange word or usage, not like a victim of xenophobia.

¿Cómo venido yo no puede leer su columna en español? ¿Cuál es usted un racista?

Commenter: If you have to be a victim, why settle for xenophobia (quoting from Wikipedia "Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of foreigners or strangers") when you can go directly to paranoia? Assume that it is all about you - he doesn't want you to understand. Just you. You have just as much data to support paranoia as xenophobia, and both conclusions are just as silly.

You guys call a chesterfield a "loveseat"?!

While Commenter is using Google to understand Linebacker and scrimmage, maybe that person should also use it to find some more meaningful examples of xenophobia.

I, an American, was surprised to learn that buffer is a euphemism for linebacker, so there you go.

By the way, should you follow KAB's advice and translate the column, please do not use the program that translated my nephew's birthday gift as a "sea world lamp lighting move". Better known as a "lava lamp".

Deliberabte obfuscation? I had no idea Bob was so subversive...

Point is, if there was a British author who provided wise advice (and there certainly are), I'd accept translating colloquialisms as the price of admission -- and a low price at that.

Commenter can choose to accept the trade-off or find other advice columns. I've always found Bob's columns consistently insightful and spot-on, so hopefully Commenter chooses to stay on, decipher American English, and benefit from Bob's experience.

Nowadays, a good worker at any level of an organization - but particularly in management - needs the ability to absorb and use new information, including metaphors from different cultures. (I doubt that any regular "Advice Line" readers will need to Google "globalization".) Beyond that, to characterize this column as "deliberately obfuscated" strikes me as extremely odd. If there is a columnist anywhere who routinely clarifies the workings of business more enrichingly than Bob Lewis, I would appreciate the tip.

Bob, I went back and read your original article. Right after you used the term "linebacker," you provided more than enough detail for any reader, American or not, to understand what you were trying to say. You don't need to change your writing style.

I find it interesting that you are accused of being xenophobic...I would think if you were afraid of others you would be MUCH more careful not to offend by using Americanisms. You may be Ameriphilic (although you criticize your homeland enough we can discount that), but certainly not xenophobic.

Interesting. How is "buffer" evidence of using American English to exclude others? Why would an American Football reference come to mind as a primary use of the word "buffer"? Merriam Webster's definition of "buffer" doesn't emphasize a football usage:

Main Entry: buffer
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: buff, verb, to react like a soft body when struck
1 : any of various devices or pieces of material for reducing shock or damage due to contact
2 : a means or device used as a cushion against the shock of fluctuations in business or financial activity
3 : something that serves as a protective barrier: as a : BUFFER STATE b : a person who shields another especially from annoying routine matters c : MEDIATOR 1
4 : a substance capable in solution of neutralizing both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original acidity or basicity of the solution; also : a solution containing such a substance
5 : a temporary storage unit (as in a computer); especially : one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another

Sorry...a chesterfield is a sofa - especially a large one - rather than a love seat. (I used to live in Canada)

It seems more like his perception of your "xenophobia" is really just his applied paranoia...
He seems to just be nitpicking and happy to read his own posting criticizing you. Why else would he actually make us read "hang on, I'll look it up in Google."??!?!?
Did he think we'd actually pause before reading the next sentence? I know, he was making the point that he had to look up information to understand your explanation, but it's not a very good point... Heaven forbid someone has to actually utilize some research skills and learn something beyond IT and dealing with management... Oh, the horror of learning!
Would it make it easier for him if you referred to the manager (in soccer terms) as the fullback protecting the goalie from the opposing team's power forwards? Probably not, if he wasn't able to make the connection on his own...
Although, there is one point he totally missed (and maybe I misunderstood you): Your description actually seemed more like that of an offensive lineman (or even a halfback or fullback) in pass protection protecting the quarterback, rather than a linebacker waiting to knock someone's helmet off... Maybe if he'd commented on that his post would seem more credible, rather sounding like someone who just doesn't like American culture...

Either way, talk about making mountains out of molehills...

I am perplexed by this comment. Buffer is a perfectly good standard-English word, which has been in use since 1835: a person who shields another especially from annoying routine matters; mediator

It also has a definition particular to computer hardware [a temporary storage unit (as in a computer); especially, one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another] that the author might reasonably expect readers of this column to be familiar with and seems appropo for a column about the role of managers.

The fact that the word buffer ALSO has a British slang usage does not diminish or nullify its standing in the English language. The reader has taken the most circuitous of routes to arrive at the definition supposedly used by the author.

If "buffer" is off limits in an IT article, then most of the English vocabulary might was well be verboten. [Oh, sorry, that's German: (1916) forbidden; especially : prohibited by dictate]

Bob, thanks for your continuing effort to enlighten and delight us.

Perhaps it is Commenter who is being xenophobic. After all, he is reacting strongly against something that is foreign to him.

Ricky Nelson said it best:
Well, it's all right now,
I've learned my lesson well.
You can't please everyone,
So you've got to please yourself.

Any euphemism will always be directed toward some sort of localized subset of a language. It will ALWAYS be found in prose that is meant to be enjoyable.

As an alternative to a colourful writing style we could borrow from Douglas Adam's wonderful description of English sandwiches... "Make them dry... make them thin..."

As a native English speaker, and Brit (Scot, actually!), can I just disassociate myself from the nonsense expressed by this correspondent. The article was, as usual, well-reasoned and clear. I'm appalled by the ignorance (and I use the term, not perjoratively but to indicate lack of knowledge) shown by this post. My reasons as threefold:

1) As pointed out by others, the use of the word "buffer" is perfectly good standard English.

2) mOreover, to anyone with ANY experience of IT, "buffer" has universally known technical definitions that are entirely unambiguous. This too has been pointed out by others.

3) the use of the term "linebacker" is perfectly clear to many British readers. American football has been shown on British TV, both terrestrial and sat/cable, to my personal knowledge, since Superbowl XVI, when the 'Skins gubbed Miami (that's nearly a quarter century ago, now) Although, I have to agree with DaveB that an offensive lineman would have been a more apposite metaphor.

Finally, can I just express my appreciation to Bob for providing clear and sensible advice that is as pertinent to us Brits as it is to you Yanks!

PS I know you're all wondering what "gubbed" means. It's Brit slang meaning "trounced" - I believe it derives from "gub", which is slang for "mouth". The verb means "to punch someone in the mouth" i.e euphemism for "to be severely beaten"

I posted the original xenophobia comment. I'd like to reply to a few of the above points:

To D
This was Bob's reply to my previous posting [advice line linguistics] when I jovially pointed out that the analogies were so American, I had no idea what he was talking about:

Dear Brit ...
Good point - thanks. I'll continue to make the error, because selfishly it creates opportunities for follow-ups!

Lauren
What sort of person needs a metaphor for "buffer"?
I don't think Bob was using a metaphor here, he says he was using a euphemism . A euphemism is 'a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word'. I understand what a buffer is but I didn't understand why buffer was offensive. I read Bob's column because it is intelligent and he knows a lot more than I. I want to understand. You know what a linebacker is. Can you explain why buffer is a word to avoid the unpleasantness of a linebacker? My guess after thinking about it for a while is that a linebacker is supposed to block and NOT buffer.

Dave
How in the devil did this language-challenged nit ever come up with THAT idea?
I'm not sure that calling Bob a nit is helpful: I read the column because he is probably right and I want to understand the idea. If you disagree, you can challenge him like I did.

Lou
"How is "buffer" evidence of using American English to exclude others? "
I think "buffer" is an international term - it was Linebacker that I wasn't familiar with.

DaveB
"I know, he was making the point that he had to look up information to understand your explanation, but it's not a very good point"
When I looked up Linebacker it explained it only in terms of other words with which I was unfamiliar. I got frustrated at not understanding because I want to understand.

Kathi
"If "buffer" is off limits in an IT article, then most of the English vocabulary might was well be verboten.
Verziehung, Sie haben das gleiche fehler wie Lou gemacht. Es war das Wort 'Linebacker' das Ich nicht verstanden haben. Ich bin die gleiche Meinung wie Sie, das das Wort 'Buffer' international ist.

Bob
On second thoughts xenophobia was too strong. You will continue to write as you want and I will continue to Google for the American terms. BTW is a linebacker a blocker in this context? I remain an avid reader of your column.

It appears that the original observer is from the 'continent'. If so, NFL Europa uses linebackers.

> Perhaps it is Commenter who is being xenophobic. After all, he is reacting
> strongly against something that is foreign to him.
>
> Posted by: Gene Wirchenko at May 30, 2007 02:00 PM

Gene, I had the same thought. And two more... "Americans and Brits are divided by a common language" (I don't remember who originally said that...) and another I like to think of as my own (although I'm not even sure about that) "The words are in English but the sentences are not."

Perhaps "ethnocentric" would be a better word than "xenophobic", as it does not imply an active avoidance or abhorrance of foreign things, but rather a preference for one's own culture, although that word is also probably too strong in this case.

@Commenter:
Ich glaube Sie haben "Verzeihung" gemeint, und "das ich nicht verstanden habe." Man muss ja aufpassen... Mein Deutsch ist bestimmt auch nicht perfekt.

Oops, forgot to suggest that perhaps "euphemism" was not the best term, either, as there is nothing offensive or distasteful about "buffer". It's really more of a sports analogy, albeit a primarily North American one.

"Study English? Pfft. I'm never going to England!"

--H.J. Simpson