Big Words

The statistics of word analysis in writing point to an increasing brevity in sentence length, coupled with an increasing length in words themselves. Entymologists who study these things regard it as a function of language development over time that moves from short words to more "intense" word usage. The addition of prefixes, suffixes, and various adverbial additions allow our words greater capacity to describe and relate to one another, though at the expense of the words becoming a bit longer. It is hard to tell whether or not the comprehension level has risen or not. Equally difficult is whether or not anyone really seems to be working at the issues of understanding in the first place.

Many have suggested that those who achieve success in many fields are those who are equipped with substantial vocabularies. It was even popular for a time to encourage vocabulary building as a significant means of more rapidly improving ones rank and level of success in the larger business arena. If the "large vocabulary" equals large success rule does apply, someone should study the progess of winners of spelling bees to discern whether they are the "great successes" of our time.

My personal appeal would be for a renewal of "plain speak." Perhaps I should get a copyright for that term. "Plain speak" in my view would be a base of language usage that would be both understandable and readable by "let's say" high school graduates. While I do understand the wide diversity in that field of achievers, let me simply imply that some levels of "non-plain-speaking" that are notable today render confusion as their greatest by-product, misunderstanding as their key ingredient, and uninteligibleness as their constant commodity. All right, my words are too big. What I am suggesting as a societal "need" at this point in history is some kind of "common speech" or "plain speaking" that would allow for shared communication between most normally socially responsible individuals who can read and write at a reasonable level.

Why is such needed? Consider the pages of the normal internal revenue service instructions. Apart from the humorous suggestion that one write in column one what one earns and in column two copy that number and send it to the IRS, there seems to be more than a little confusion about the rest of the instructions that we typically read in the tax code.

Another place for rewriting is the basic court documents one must use in settling an estate, or transfering ownership of an automobile, or writing a will and designating beneficiaries. In each of these cases, the legalese that presently permeates these proceedings is both cumbersome, difficult, if not impossible to interpret quickly and easily; and despite being a document to carry out a very regularly occuring activity, it can be made to seem ridiculous by the sheer complexity of confusion caused by the language used when reading. I know, my words are too long.

Part or the problem lies in our cultural insistance on specialization. We compartmnentalize fields of endeavor in such ways that the language of each becomes a language unto itself. Only those "within" the realm can speak or understand the meaning of the "words" this specialty has devised. Sadly, we all lose the capacity to relate or to learn or to share with one another in the most ordinary ways.

Build your vocabulary! I'm all for it. At the same time I dare anyone, accountants, bankers, and marketers, the pleasure of deciphering a current bank solicitation for a new credit card account. The content of such documents is a continuous litany of doublespeak. Offers for credit at one point in the document are removed in the fineprint below and substituted with suggestions that any previously quoted rate is not necessarily the rate and the rate will be determined by one's prior acceptablitly and approval and credit rating and a rate will be determined at the time of approval or if not, the amount of credit will be reduced or the rate increased, depending on the evaluation of one's ....you get the idea. All of this under the title: You are preapproved for a new account with us." They are then not pre-approving anything, not guaranteeing any account, and any new account might be transferred to another entity in the blink of an eye. So much for the failure of any sort of "plain-speak."

Politicians equally join in the fun. They can not only speak out of both sides of their mouths as we used to say, but they manage to always play to the most available audience at the moment. "Get elected" is their rule of thumb. Forget the consistency or truthfulness or meaning of their words. All right, I know not all politicians sell themselves to the highest bidder. But speaking is important. I for one hold it in high regard...noting its power to move people to act, to engage people for a common purpose, and to remind people of truth.

So why don't we start with some "plain-speak" for a change and work to build a more functional and helpful capacity to communicate? If someone could explain the tax code, I would love to write a translation. What if "plain speak" could be used to communicate regarding health, government, food, insurance, banking, and business transations? Imagine the benefit. Imagine the improved speed of doing business. Imagine the cost savings. Imagine the good choices that could be made in light of clear information. I know, people with good information still do not always make good decisions. But if they can understand what they are deciding about...it sure gives them at least a "fighting chance" of avoiding a bad choice, if they would like.

This could be fun. Imagine a tax form that said: Annual Income; divide income by 10; send that amount to IRS. This is your tax for this year. Imagine a car for sale sticker that said: Your Price: You pay it, its yours. Imagine a credit offer at a bank that said. You may borrow this much _____. It will cost you ___ % of the balance annually until it is paid in full. Imagine a contract that said. These ______________(services) will be done for __________(price) by _________(date) or a refund of ______ daily will be given for delays. Imagine "plainspeak" in politics. "I will vote for ___________(bill or law) because _____________(reasons).
I will vote against ____________(bill or law) because__________________(reasons.)
Such a wave of "fresh air" might change politics forever. Yes, we could dream.
In other words, sign me up as an advocate of "plain speak." I think its time has come. draft 10:23:00