{"id":4430,"date":"2024-07-20T15:24:38","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T14:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lrob.fr\/?p=4430"},"modified":"2024-07-22T03:29:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T01:29:21","slug":"dont-use-digital-in-any-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-www.lrob.fr\/en\/blog\/nutilisez-plus-digital-nimporte-comment\/","title":{"rendered":"Don't just use \"digital\" any old way!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article from this LinkedIn post<\/a>. Follow me <\/a>so you don't miss a thing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"I'm crazy about digital!\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What I imagine when I hear \"digital\": FINGERS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \"DIGITAL\" is obsolete and misused! \u26a0\ufe0f
Let's do better \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I defend and use certain anglicisms... But one of them saddens me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIGITAL <\/strong>\ud83d\ude49\ud83d\ude49<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chances are you'll overuse that word! \ud83d\ude4a Don't worry, I love you anyway! \ud83e\udd70<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This word has become a must in webmarketing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is it that good \u2753 My answer \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Overuse of the word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u26a0\ufe0f The use of this word everywhere has two dramatic effects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1- Semantic satiation<\/a> A psychological phenomenon in which the repetition of a word causes us to forget its meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2- Loss of competitive edge: If everyone's doing digital, it doesn't make you stand out any more, it puts you up against huge competition in terms of SEO!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Double meaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 This word already exists in French with a very different meaning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In French, \"digital\" means :
\ufe0f \"Which belongs to the fingers.\" Example: fingerprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In English, \"digital\" means :
\ufe0f \"Digital technology; digital media, as digital television, digital audio, etc.\"
-> This refers to computer technology, which evokes the opposition to analog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2139\ufe0f In terms of etymology, in English, \"digital\" comes from \"digit\", derived from the habit of counting on one's fingers... But in the end, \"digital\" doesn't have the same meaning in English as it does in French!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lack of precision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 When we use the word \"digital\", we're talking about information technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf0a But it's vague... Too vague.
\ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Surfing is cool, but being precise is even better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As quoted by the excellent developer Simon Janvier in LinkedIn comment<\/a> :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"To misname an object is to add to the unhappiness of this world\".<\/p>\nAlbert Camus<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\ufe0f Digital, even taken with its English meaning is too broad to evoke anything concrete.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What to do \u2753<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Use real English<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By replacing a Franglais expression with a true English expression (sometimes it's a question of word order), you'll break the double meaning and awkwardness of the expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n