- Plain language is the same thing as "plain English". Plain language includes languages other than English.
- Plain language is simple, clear, straightforward, precise and complete variety of language but it is not a new language with new vocabulary and separate grammar.
o Plain language is not drab (lack of liveliness).
o Plain language is not new kind of language with a separate vocabulary. Plain language writing is the practice of writing in a clear and simple style.
o Plain language is not simplistic (a kind of baby talk). It means straightforward, clear, precise.
o William Zinsser points out, of the 701 words in Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address 505 are words of one syllable and 122 are words of two syllables.
o There are those who believe that ordinary English beneath a professional dignity; as it should be when ordinary English is bad English or when law language is better. But ordinary English is not always bad English, and law language does not always say it better, or more precisely.
- Mellinkoff in his Book 'The Language of the Law'
o Plain language is not rigid but, in fact, one of its advantages is its flexibility.
o It is not possible to become a proficient plain language writer overnight and there is no benchmark that tells you when you have become proficient.
o Writing in plain language is just writing in clear, straightforward language, with the need of the reader foremost in mind.
o Some people have adopted other terms such as "clear English" or "user-friendly English".
o Plain language does not ban all technical terms. But when plain language writers decide to use an uncommon or technical word in their writing, they usually do it for one of three reasons:
1. They know the readers will be specialists, who are familiar with the word; or
2. there is no accurate substitute for the word; or
3. The word will be a useful shorthand for complicated subject matter that crops up more than just once or twice.
If the reader is not specialist, the plain language writer will often give an explanation of the technical word - in plain language - and then continue to use the technical word as a convenient and accurate shorthand for a complex idea.
o Plain language writers also avoid using word that are no longer used in everyday speech - even if they are not difficult.
o In summary lawyers who write in plain language try to put themselves in the readers' shoes. They think about what they are writing and what it will mean to the reader - how the reader will react and how they can help the reader to understand, and act on, what they have written.
- Plain Language Association International
Plain language (or clear writing) is a way of writing and presenting information so that readers can understand it quickly and easily.
Plain language documents are:
· Relevant to the reader
· Clear and concise
· Easy to follow
· Conversational and direct
· Designed to be inviting and help readers find important information
Plain language (also called Plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Written material is in plain language if your audience can:
o Find what they need;
o Understand what they find; and
o Use what they find to meet their needs.
Plain English is clear, straightforward expression, using only as many words as are necessary. It is language that avoids obscurity, inflated vocabulary and convoluted sentence construction. It is not baby talk, nor is it a simplified version of the English language. Writers of plain English let their audience concentrate on the message instead of being distracted by complicated language. They make sure that their audience understands the message easily.
- Professor Robert Eagleson, Australia
Plain language is clear language. It is simple and direct but not simplistic or patronizing. Using plain language doesn't mean everyone's writing must sound the same. There is no one ‘right' way to express an idea. Every thought can be expressed in many different ways and the variety comes from the individual way we approach an idea or writing task. There's plenty of room for your own style—but it will only blossom once you have overcome the poor writing habits that are typical of most government writing.
Why Plain Language? The case in favor of plain language
· Traditionally legal language has been complained about and even ridiculed for centuries.
· Plain language is efficient - it saves time, effort and money and we can measure those efficiencies.
· Plain language is effective - readers generally comprehend plain language documents better and quicker than documents written in traditional legal language, and we can measure those benefits.
· Plain language can give you a competitive edge.
· Many laws already require plain language, or similar standards of readability or comprehensibility.
· Our courts are quite willing to hold that documents are unenforceable because they cannot be understood.
· Plain language can improve the image of lawyers - surveys confirm this.
· Clients want good communication with their lawyers. They know plain language when they see it, and value it highly.
· Traditional legal language may not be as safe as we think it is.
· Using plain language does not mean giving up legal precision. Plain language can be at least as precise as traditional legal language.
Some misconceptions/criticisms of plain language are:
- Plain language looks only at the words on the page, and ignores the other things that make documents difficult to read, use and understand: this misunderstands the aim of plain language movement because when we draft in plain language we look at more than just the meaning of the words we are using and how they will be perceived by our readers. We look at how the information is organized and presented. We look at the organization of the words in a sentence, and of the sentences in a document, and the design and layout of the document itself.
- plain language is some new kind of language with a separate vocabulary from normal language: Some people think that plain language is a new kind of language with a separate vocabulary. This is not right. Plain language writing is just practice of writing in English, Nepali, Maithili, German, French or whatever else in a clear and simple style.
- Some people think that plain language sounds drab: plain language is not drab. It is interesting. It is easy to read, use and understand. It is user friendly.
- Some people think that plain language is like a baby talk: plain language is simple but it doesn’t mean simplistic. It can be beautiful, elegant and dramatic. It, at least, is straightforward, clear and precise.
- Some people think that plain language is not dignified enough for lawyers to use in legal documents: It is wrong. Plain language is dignified enough. It makes use of appropriate tone for a formal documents or letters. Its style is not pompous inflated or remote.
- Some people think
that if one writes in plain language, he/she must use particular mannerisms.
For example, using ‘you’ and ‘your’ instead of ‘borrower’ and ‘lender’: It is
not right either. That is not requirement of plain language writing. Plain
language is not as rigid as that. It is flexible
Fundamentals of plain language: Things to be considered before putting pen to paper/ before start writing, one should keep the following things in his/her writing:
· Consider your reader. There is more to good legal writing than just getting it technically right.
· Remember that your writing will probably have both a primary and secondary audience, so you need to keep the needs of both those audiences in mind.
· If unsure, write for the audience that is least likely to understand.
· Ask yourself (and your reader) about the purpose of the writing. What does the reader want to do with it, and what do you want them to do with it?
· Decide on your tone and appropriate degree of formality. Don't be afraid to use your own voice in your writing. But always take professional approach. Remember that secondary audience.
· Arrange your information with the reader's need in mind not yours. Giver your client an answer and not an essay.
· Never write in anger. You are an advisor, not a party.
· Always be courteous. Plain words do not require rudeness. They may require sensitivity to the reader as an individual.
· Don't be pompous. Clear and simple writing can be dignified too.
0 Comments