PLAIN plenary at Amsterdam

Published on October 07, 2007.

Chhanda reminded Deb: “We were talking about the plain language movement in the West. Any new developments?”

“Yes indeed,” said Deb. “All plain language groups around the globe will be zeroing in on Amsterdam 11 to 14 October. For the Sixth International Plain Language Conference. The biggest till now.”

“Wow!” said Chhanda. “Who’s arranging it?”

“Been convened by PLAIN---Plain Language Association International,” Deb said. “It’ll be hosted by Bureautaal, a communications consulting agency that specializes in plain Dutch.”

“In Holland, where Dutch is the language,” mused Chhanda. “An irony, considering ‘Double Dutch’ has always meant language you can’t understand.”

“Which activists will attend?’ Rajat wanted to know. Rajat has always been a plain language enthusiast.

“Activists from most countries, really,” said Deb. “Among the famous groups, PLAIN, Clarity International, and the Centre for Plain Language. That’ll make it the first plenary of the top three plain-language organizations.”

“Where exactly in Amsterdam?” Chhanda asked.

“At the Beurs van Berlage centre,” said Deb. “Was built for the Amsterdam Municipality. Has a surface area of almost 1600 sq. metres.”

“Good heavens!” said Chhanda. “What will they do with all that space?”

“They expect about 500 people. There’ll be 50 workshops, and about 100 papers read by activists from African countries, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, the U K and the USA.”

“India too, eh? Who’ll represent India?” Anjum wanted to know.

Deb startled us all: “I will. On behalf of Clear English India.”

Deepak was the first to recover: “Fancy keeping that up your sleeve all these days. How did this come about?”

“The PLAIN executive committee had suggested this some time ago. I’d told them I hadn’t the money. Amsterdam’s about the most expensive place in Europe. They very kindly arranged a subsidy from the Plain English Foundation, Australia.”

“Will you read a paper?” Deepak asked.

“Yes,” said Deb. “They’ve accepted the summary I sent.”

“No wonder you’re so well informed,” said Chhanda. “I was rather impressed the way you were reeling off facts.”

“Any idea what papers will be read?” Anjum asked.

“The focus,” said Deb, “will be on the lack of communication, as also on effective communication methods. In all countries, even those with good educational systems, much of the population can’t understand what their governments write. Nor what private enterprises dish out. And so, there’ll be papers on the cost of ineffective communication---for readers; for governments; for business enterprises.”

“That’s great!” said Deepak. “What else?”

“And then papers on how plain language can be a solution for ineffective communication,” Deb said. “Some participants will explore the gap between the language level of texts and the reading levels of people. And how plain language can close that gap.”

“But that’ll depend on reading levels of plain language texts too, won’t it?” asked Anjum.

“You’re right,” Deb said. “That’s why there’ll be several papers on reading levels. You talk about gobbledygook in texts for schoolchildren. There’ll be a workshop on the literacy level of educational books. Another will discuss how we can measure the comprehensibility of texts. Wish you could attend those.”

“You be our ears and eyes,” said Anjum. “What other workshops?”

“One very important workshop will be on order and conflict,” said Deb. “Conflicts arise when people don’t understand each other well. In families---between parents and children; between spouses. In companies---between employers and employees. Among various communities. The German philosopher, Jurgen Habermas, said that the progress of democracy depends on how well we communicate.”

“An excellent topic indeed,” said Deepak. “Wish such discussion were held here. You know, considering communal flare-ups in India.”

“Yes,” said Deb. “Then there’ll be workshops on oral communication. Conversation between doctors and their patients. It’ll explore some rules of oral plain language.”

“That’s very wise,” said Chhanda. “Indian doctors only hone techniques how to evade patients.”

“Let’s be fair,” said Deepak. “Patients often blab irrelevant things.”

“There’ll be workshops on the advantages of plain language in law,” said Deb.

That excited Rajat the most: “Hey, will there be a workshop on legalese?”

“Oh yes’” Deb said. “Professor Joseph Kimble, an authority on plain language in law, will be there to explain that plain language is every bit as accurate as the jargon that passes for ‘legal writing’. Professor Kimble’ll talk about the techniques of writing law in plain language. There’ll even be an ambitious workshop on rewriting the constitution of a country in plain language.”

“Wow!” said Rajat. “That’s very ambitious. Be sure to grab papers on these.”

“Must try,” said Deb. “Maybe I’ll ask the Professor for a copy of his paper. There’ll also be workshops on plain language in the financial sector. The functioning of markets depends a lot on how well consumers can understand financial products and services. Dutchmen are hosting this conference. And Article 4.19 of the Dutch Law on Financial Services gives consumers the right to financial information in plain language.”

“Amazing!” Deepak exclaimed. “The amount of work and thought the west has invested in plain language!”

“Equally amazing that we haven’t even begun to think about such things,” rued Anjum.

“Nor will politics be left out,” Deb continued. “There’ll be a workshop on plain language in election campaigns. Parties that can communicate well with the people are always the most successful. Look how Mayawati uised simple but punchy slogans. Mrs. Thatcher beat Labour in 1979 with her simple 'Labour doesn't work' slogan.”

“We’ll see you off to Amsterdam,” said Rajat. “Just grab as many papers as you can. And let’s try to do something here.”

“I’ll try,” said Deb.