Anyone use the word 'ASK' as a noun at your work?

[Kaido]

You mean using the word ask instead of a word like "request?" Yes I hear that occasionally.

Yup, same as request.

That sounds condescending actually, and kind of annoying.

Come to think of it, every time I've heard it used, it has been lightly condescending. It's almost a passive-aggressive way to say "what's the request?", like "sigh, what's the request?" = "what's the ask?" as a dumb way to clarify the request

 

[Kaido]

Just to follow up, I'm in IT with tons of Indians, but I heard it always from non-Indians.

It's not used in finance context (what's the 'ask'ing price). It's used for all requests, i.e. "the ask is for you to rerun this claim", "my ask is that you add this radio button and 2 columns."

Wow, I really hope that doesn't catch on. It rubs me the wrong way lol. The more I read sentences with it, the more patronizing it sounds. It's like listening to a little kid who doesn't know the right word to use for "need" or "request", haha.

 

[Zeze]

Wow, I really hope that doesn't catch on. It rubs me the wrong way lol. The more I read sentences with it, the more patronizing it sounds. It's like listening to a little kid who doesn't know the right word to use for "need" or "request", haha.

It's not even used in a 'fashionable' sense. It's just very casually used. I don't think it's because that's newly hip, this thing dates probably much older.

I do like this ASK as a noun usage though. It didn't sound patronizing, it has a more 'precisely-what-you-want-me-to-do-you're-rambling-let's-move-on' feel. The listener usually answers that directly and both knows this will conclude the call faster.

 

[pontifex]

indian

 

[Pulsar]

I'm in IT- people seem to use the word 'ask' as a noun, i.e. "What is the ASK?" (meaning, what is requested of me / what are you asking of me / wtf do you want me to do?)

I wonder if this is Indian English or more IT specific. Anyone come across this?

And my reply would be "huh? What are you saying?" with a confused look on my face until the idiots speak english. I'm not big for people repurposing words so they can sound all hipster.

 

[justoh]

Why wouldn't you check the dictionary before complaining about the usage of a recognized noun.

 

[pcgeek11]

That is pretty damn weird. Never heard anyone use that phrase or anything close.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Nope never heard it. Thanks for the heads up. If/when I do hear it I will be sure to correct the ask-er. "I believe you mean Task."

 

[amdhunter]

I'm Indian and in IT, all I ever aks is for Bobs and Vegana.

 

[momeNt]

It's relatively common business lingo. Not a huge fan.

What's the ask, circle back, touch base, all probably come from those books on business communication.

 

[IronWing]

This is the context in which I have heard the term (sorry for stupid ad drenched site):
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bid-and-asked.asp

 

[blackangst1]

I hear it often. I believe it originally comes from the agile environment (scrum). Agile has some strange terminology.

 

[glenn1]

I hear it often. I believe it originally comes from the agile environment (scrum). Agile has some strange terminology.

Not really an Agile term per se. I hear it used relatively frequently. Doesn't bother me, it's akin to using "bandwidth" for availability or such. The only one that annoys me is "productionalize" or "productionization" since it doesn't add anything to the table that develop or implement already do while being much shorter words.

 

[jhansman]

Yep. I work on a military post, and the commandant said it the other day in large meeting: "My only ask is that." I am an editor, and almost got up and left.

 

[Chaotic42]

No, but the overwhelming new trend is to use the word bandwidth to mean "time in the day to perform said activity".

 

[Red Squirrel]

No, but the overwhelming new trend is to use the word bandwidth to mean "time in the day to perform said activity".

I work for an ISP, that would get so confusing if people started to use that. But it would also be an oportunity to make smirk remarks to show how ridiculous these buzzwords are.

Manager: "We simply don't have enough bandwidth to do this"
Tech: "Oh don't worry we have at least 3 spare cables of fibre with 64 strands each going to the main office, we can put a bunch of OC192s in service if needed. Just need to buy the cards for the transport shelf and we're good to go!"

 

[Dulanic]

Hear it a ton. What is the ask? I work in data analytics.

Probably started with our Indian partners asking us to do the needful.

 

[twjr]

"that's a pretty big ask"

That is a pretty common usage in Australian and New Zealand English.

I have never heard it used as "what is the ask" though

 

[WelshBloke]

That is a pretty common usage in Australian and New Zealand English.

I have never heard it used as "what is the ask" though

Same in UK English.

 

[NetWareHead]

I've heard that at a seminar where the theme was empowering women. One of the speakers explained that to achieve success, "you have to make the ask."

and then do the needful

 

[slayer202]

it's a douche thing, not an indian thing

 

[IronWing]

It's now exploded in use by my managers. Annoying, it is



Edit: I blame Zeze.

 

[Thebobo]

I'm in IT- people seem to use the word 'ask' as a noun, i.e. "What is the ASK?" (meaning, what is requested of me / what are you asking of me / wtf do you want me to do?)

I wonder if this is Indian English or more IT specific. Anyone come across this?

I am not in IT and have never heard that before.

 

[ultimatebob]

As in "What is the ask on that from the customer", instead of "What should we ask the customer?"

Yeah, my bosses use it all the time. I'm not sure when it became popular.

 

[ultimatebob]

and then do the needful

"Do the needful" is an Indian (dot not feather) thing.