Pages 49-115 (Harty)

Introduction:

Writers should remember their readers and:

• write everything as clearly, straightforwardly, and simply as possible
• write in a manner or style they would be comfortable speaking

Jargon: technical language unique to a profession or occupation

Gobbledygook: mindless gibberish akin to double talk and characterized by pretentiousness.

Legalese: overreliance on legal terminology when plain english will serve the reader and writer as well.

Gobbledygook:

the longer word may carry the meaning better, but not because it is longer

it is important to remember that human communication involves listeners AND speakers

Writing in your job:

four articles of faith: clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity.

use active verbs and avoid "concept nouns"

a simple style is the result of hard work and hard thinking, not the result of a simple mind.

using "I" can warm up any document or institution.

be yourself when you write.

The Plain English Revolution:

What is it?- Its aim is to make functional documents function. If a consumer is expected to abide by a formal document, then the consumer must be able to understand it.

34 states have laws or regulations setting standards for clear language in insurance policies; law firms are trying to train young lawyers in clear legal drafting.

some lawyers are using "simple" language to misinform and take advantage of consumers. (pg. 76)

A Critic of plain language misses the mark:

Critics claim that lawyers can't use simple language for two reasons:

• they have an economic interest in confusing clients
• they deal with abstractions and can't use down-to-earth language

International Communication and Language:

communication is about what words mean in the dictionary and how they are put together.

the way we communicate may be mystifying to people from other cultures, even though WE believe we have made ourselves clear.

each learned language gives you a new perspective on the world. if you work with people not from your native culture, you must be able to shift from your "native" perceptions, because language affects how you think.

Talking Points:

• what can be done to prevent lawyers from taking advantage of consumers through simple language?
• is the tendency to avoid simple language taught to us as children? or do we learn it as we get older?
• are we taught to write formally and impersonally rather than as ourselves?