Will gobbledegook jargon bite the dust and plain language thrive?

• Author: Andreea S. Calude, Sam Campbell Waikato University
• Published date: 10 September 2022
• Publication title: Weekend Herald

This century-old example is a useful illustration of how “plain language” can be used to communicate more clearly, from everyday interactions to government documents

The Plain Language Bill before Parliament argues comprehensible information from government organisations is a basic democratic right.

The push for simplicityPlain language movements originated in the 1970s in several countries, including Britain, the United States and Canada. And there’s some indication the very first mention of plain language dates back as far as the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1300s.

However old, these movements strove for clear, straightforward and accessible language in official documents. This is not just a “nice-to-have”. In some cases it can save lives — pandemic instructions, for example.

And there is also an element of linguistic equality: minority, migrant and marginalised communities have more difficulty understanding complex jargon-laden documents, which tip the scales further against them.

What is plain language?There is no single...