US-based centre promotes governments’ use of plain language

treehugger.com

The Center for Plain Language helps governments communicate effectively with citizens.

The centre believes that plain language is a philosophy of communication; readers go through the material, and should be able to find what they need, understand it, and use it to fulfil their needs.

“Plain language is not just a bunch of linguistic techniques; it’s a different point of view where you have to understand your audience and you have to know what they want and need,” Dr. Annetta Cheek, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the centre told FutureGov.

“When you’re in the government, you’re mostly talking to people that you’re trying to influence; and you need to understand who they are, what they need to know, what they already know to satisfy their needs. It’s the government’s job to make it clear to them; it shouldn’t be their job to figure out the complex government jargon.”

Moving from a traditional bureaucratic writing style to a plain writing style is very difficult challenge for the centre; it is a culture change.

“Any government that’s really concerned about its citizens needs to be concerned about communicating clearly with them. If you want citizens to be participants in a government, they have to understand what you are doing. A Government sets itself apart from the people when it writes in a way that people can’t understand,” Dr. Cheek added.

The following are parts of the centre’s plain writing education activities: • Tracking plain writing legislation in the federal government and around the world • Demand to Understand: Encourages the public to expect plain language before they sign. • Training and education events about plain language • Plain Language Toolkit and other resources

The Center for Plain Language was established in 2003, and was helping government agencies ever since.

-futuregov.asia