Spelling it out – plainly!

(July 14 2010) We’ve all seen examples of the kind of verbosity that makes English so obscure that it could almost be another language, so it is a relief to know that there is an organisation promoting the use of plain language in South Africa.

 For example, a statement such as: ensure machinery for issuing and endorsing tickets is confirmed as in working order and is set in accordance with approved procedure” could be understood much better if it were written as: check that the ticket machine is showing the correct date and price.

The Professional Editors’ Group (PEG) is determined to ensure that the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act of 2009 are met and that at least English, as the country’s primary written language, is used in a way that is understandable and accessible.

The organisation, which celebrates its 18th anniversary this year, is dedicated to promoting high standards in editing and proofreading in South Africa. Its members include copy-editors, proofreaders and other practitioners who work in the South African publishing industry, the academic world, government and NGOs, corporate communications and the media.

“According to the Act, all documents have to be simplified into plain language,” says John Linnegar, Chairperson of PEG. “That is why we have decided to offer a one-day workshop on Plain Language Issues and Practice at the Cape Town Book Fair on July 30, 2010.”

“This workshop addresses – in a practical way – the highly topical issue of communicating through plain language. From the viewpoint of both policy and plain language skills, it will be of interest to editors, proofreaders, materials developers, writers and ‘rewriters’,” he adds.

The workshop will be addressed by Hector Tshabalala, Editor-in-Chief: Language Services Section, National Parliament of South Africa; Eleanor Cornelius, Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Literary Theory, University of Johannesburg; and John Linnegar. It will cover the theory of plain language and explore why plain language is necessary through case studies that demonstrate its importance for improving access to information in all facets of our society.

For more information and to book your place, visit the PEG website at www.editors.org.za, or contact Ellyn Barry at ellynbarry@telkomsa.net. The workshop fee is R450. There is a discount for PEG members, who pay R250, and students of publishing or related studies, who pay R160.

Ends                                                                                                                                                 ________________________________ Issued on behalf of PEG by HIPPO Communications

For further information contact Beryl Eichenberger 021 556 8200/082 490 6652 beryl@hippocommunciations.com