Ghent (Belgium), Giorgio Vassallo - ‘Clearer language, greater efficiency and effectiveness’ is the slogan of this year’s International Plain Language Conference to be held in Dublin, Ireland from 17 to 20 September 2015.
The conference is being organised by the Plain Language Association InterNational (PLAIN) and the National Adult Literacy Agency in Ireland (NALA). PLAIN is ‘a growing volunteer non-profit organisation of plain language advocates, professionals, and organisations committed to plain language.’ NALA is an Irish organisation that since 2005 has strived to promote the usage of plain English.
The mission of PLAIN and its conference is to increase public awareness of plain language, and promote the use of plain language in business, government, health care, justice, and education.
The conference will host speakers and panellist discussions from many industries and organisations: Merck & Co. Inc, The Guardian, The Central Bank of Ireland and the United Nations are some of the organisations that will be represented by speakers during the conference. The full programme is available on the plain2015 website.
What is Plain Language?
The idea of plain language as it is promoted by PLAIN, is that it is clearer, more concise and easier to follow than regular texts. By using plain language, it should be easier to find information, avoid misunderstandings, save money and time, increase customer satisfaction and avoid lawsuits.
An example of the difference between regular language and plain language taken from the plainlanguagenetwork website:
“If you fail to comply with your duty of disclosure and we would not have entered into the contract on any terms if the failure had not occurred, we may void the contract within three years of entering into it. If your non- disclosure is fraudulent, we may void the contract at any time. Where we are entitled to void a contract of life insurance we may, within three years of entering into it, elect not to void it but to reduce the sum that you have been insured for in accordance with a formula that takes into account the premium that would have been payable if you had disclosed all relevant matters to us.”
Can be simplified thus:
“If you fail to disclose any relevant matter and we would not offer you insurance if this matter were known, we may within three years (1) void the contract or (2) reduce the sum for which you have been insured. If your nondisclosure is fraudulent, we may void the contract at any time.”
The website offers tips and resources on how to start using plain language. Links can be found below.
http://www.plainlanguagenetwork.org
http://plain2015.ie/