Plain Language Movement
Encyclopedia
The Plain Language Movement is an effort to eliminate unnecessarily complex language from academia, government, law, and business
.
International and national organizations in the movement include:
Organizations that have endorsed plain language include the Legal Writing Institute, the Canadian Bar Association
, and the Canadian Bankers Association.
William Lutz, an American linguist specialising in doublespeak and the use of plain language, asserts that
, signed into law on October 13, 2010, requires US federal agencies to use plain language in every covered document that the agency issues or substantially revises, and to train its employees in plain language.
Corporate jargon
Corporate jargon lists jargon often used in business communication of corporations. A slang type or form is called "corporatese." Corporate jargon is not confined to business and can also be found in education and government departments.- Initialisms :...
.
International and national organizations in the movement include:
- Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) was formed in 1993 as the Plain Language Network. Its membership is international; it was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Canada in 2008.
- Clarity is an international association promoting plain legal language. The organization publishes a journal.
- The Plain Language Information and Action Network (also known as PLAIN) is a group of volunteer US federal employees working to improve communications from the federal government to the public.
- The Center for Plain Language is a US-based nonprofit organization promoting the use of plain language in the public and private sectors. The organization hosts annual symposia in Washington DC. The Center also gives ClearMark Awards to outstanding examples of clear communication, and WonderMark awards to examples of truly bad communication.
Organizations that have endorsed plain language include the Legal Writing Institute, the Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
The Canadian Bar Association represents over 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada.-History:The Association's first Annual Meeting was held in Montreal in 1896. However, the CBA has been in continuous existence in its present form since 1914...
, and the Canadian Bankers Association.
Aims
The movement focuses attention on the information needs and the reading abilities of the reader and opposes writer-based prose, which is the tendency to use long sentences, jargon, and a formal style as a way to acquire authority, power, and credibility.William Lutz, an American linguist specialising in doublespeak and the use of plain language, asserts that
"language is power, period. The lesson of Nineteen Eighty-FourNineteen Eighty-FourNineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
is that those who rule the language, rule... The language of the lawyers, of the politicians, of the intelligentsia, is supposed to make [others] feel inferior."
The Plain Writing Act of 2010
The Plain Writing Act of 2010Plain Writing Act of 2010
Signed into law on October 13, 2010, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 is a United States federal law that requires that federal executive agencies:* Use plain writing in every covered document that the agency issues or substantially revises...
, signed into law on October 13, 2010, requires US federal agencies to use plain language in every covered document that the agency issues or substantially revises, and to train its employees in plain language.
See also
- Plain EnglishPlain EnglishPlain English is a generic term for communication styles that emphasise clarity, brevity and the avoidance of technical language – particularly in relation to official government communication, including laws.The intention is to write in a manner that is easily understood by the target...
and Plain English CampaignPlain English CampaignThe Plain English Campaign is a commercial editing and training firm based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1979 by Chrissie Maher, the company positions itself as a leader in plain-language advocacy, working to persuade organisations in the UK and abroad to communicate with the public in plain... - Plain languagePlain languagePlain language is clear, succinct writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly and completely as possible.Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon...
- Legal writingLegal writingLegal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.- Authority :...
External links
- Revisiting Plain Language, Beth Mazur
- Plain language: gone underground?, Christine Mowat
- Plain writing legislative history, Irwin Berent, Plain Writing Association
- A Historical Bibliography of the Plain Language Movement, Plain Writing Association
- Plain Writing Legislation: A Comparison of Bills, Plain Writing Association
- PLAIN Plain Language Association International
- Essay: Why not "Plain English"?
- Clarity
- The European Commission Translation Service Fight the Fog Campaign
- The American Plain Language Action and Information Network
- Center for Plain Language
- The Swedish Government's Plain Swedish office
- The Plain Writing Act of 2010