In this article devoted to styles of expression, we will focus on issues somewhat more subtle than the common linguistic errors of logisticians. Style is defined as a set of linguistic means chosen consciously or unconsciously by the author of a statement in speech or writing due to their usefulness in achieving the goal of the statement. Stylistic errors are harder to detect, although every language user easily recognizes typical styles of expression: scientific, official, journalistic, artistic, and colloquial. It happens that when formulating a statement, one unconsciously uses linguistic means characteristic of another style, for example, to add gravity to it. Logisticians most often use three styles: scientific – in books or journalistic – in articles, professional (official) – in professional work, and colloquial – in informal contacts in the workplace. The examples discussed below come from working drafts of scientific papers, official documents, as well as overheard informal conversations between logisticians.
Each of the mentioned typical styles is characterized by recognizable linguistic means. The colloquial style is used for communication in everyday contacts and is characterized by vocabulary containing many environmental elements (e.g., professional jargon – words characteristic of a specific professional group) and emotionally colored words and expressions. Sentences in this style are built without special care, full of abbreviations, sometimes understandable only against the background of a situation known to the interlocutors, and supplemented by facial expressions and gestures. The colloquial style allows for the greatest freedom; it is actually difficult to speak of errors here.
The use of abbreviations typical of the colloquial style is visible in the tendency to shorten extended names of logistics concepts, e.g., simply “lean” to describe lean management or lean manufacturing. In informal situations, in the colloquial style, it is also permissible to shorten the word “Internet” to the form “net”. What is inappropriate is using colloquial terms in situations where the official style is appropriate. We will therefore consider it a stylistic error to include the word “paleciak” (pallet jack) in a forklift operating manual or “skrapy” (scraps) to describe defective components, but in contacts between employees of the same rank, in spoken language, it is perfectly appropriate. In the group of colloquial vocabulary of logisticians, one can find such astonishing and amusing expressions as “poka yoke” (in the sense of “foolproof”), to describe techniques ensuring the avoidance of errors in production and assembly processes. In a serious text, we will also not write the humorous expression used by logisticians “first in – still here”, abbreviated as FISH, into the group of warehousing concepts such as FIFO (first in – first out) or LIFO (last in – first out), even if that is exactly what the reality of warehouse management looks like. It is clearly visible that in the colloquial language of logisticians, there is a tendency to specific “taming” of English. However, words marked by colloquialism can appear in a text maintained in a popular science article or in an official memo only in quotation marks and only when necessary. This diversifies the text and deprives it of stiffness, but it cannot be overused. It could give the impression that the author of the statement lacks the right words or does not control the style.
The use of abbreviations typical of the colloquial style is visible in the tendency to shorten extended names of logistics concepts, e.g., simply “lean” to describe lean management or lean manufacturing. In informal situations, in the colloquial style, it is also permissible to shorten the word “Internet” to the form “net”. What is inappropriate is using colloquial terms in situations where the official style is appropriate. We will therefore consider it a stylistic error to include the word “paleciak” (pallet jack) in a forklift operating manual or “skrapy” (scraps) to describe defective components, but in contacts between employees of the same rank, in spoken language, it is perfectly appropriate. In the group of colloquial vocabulary of logisticians, one can find such astonishing and amusing expressions as “poka yoke” (in the sense of “foolproof”), to describe techniques ensuring the avoidance of errors in production and assembly processes. In a serious text, we will also not write the humorous expression used by logisticians “first in – still here”, abbreviated as FISH, into the group of warehousing concepts such as FIFO (first in – first out) or LIFO (last in – first out), even if that is exactly what the reality of warehouse management looks like. It is clearly visible that in the colloquial language of logisticians, there is a tendency to specific “taming” of English. However, words marked by colloquialism can appear in a text maintained in a popular science article or in an official memo only in quotation marks and only when necessary. This diversifies the text and deprives it of stiffness, but it cannot be overused. It could give the impression that the author of the statement lacks the right words or does not control the style.
The official style used in formal contacts and official letters is characterized by extended sentences, passive voice, and analytical constructions. Various types of instructions, ordinances, regulations, and applications are maintained in this style. It is distinguished by recognizable schematicism and set phrases, e.g., “to request”, “to comply with regulations”. A certain variation of the official style (characterized by established phrases, impersonal, rigorously ordered) are written logistics procedures: the order of solving tasks, calculation algorithms, methodologies, etc. In this case, there is no need to fear that repeating phrases and the rhythm of sentences is stylistically incorrect, as this type of statement is intended to guarantee the clarity of reasoning, calculation, and explanation.