1. Introduction
The purpose of this report is to look at the experiences of others
who use plain language, and to recommend a plan the Government of the
Northwest Territories (GNWT) could follow to implement plain language
use.
2. Background
The NWT Literacy Council has been training GNWT employees to write
in plain language for a number of years. During 2001-2002, 127 employees
participated in introductory plain language workshops. The Council has
continued to deliver training, including two workshops in early 2004.
The Council produced a Plain Language Handbook and a Plain Language
Audit Tool. These projects were funded by the GNWT Department of Education,
Culture and Communications. The Council distributed the books widely
within government.
The evaluation of the plain language workshops in 2002-03 showed that
people who take the training use what they have learned in their work.
However, they say that training is not leading to strategies to use
plain language within the government.
The GNWT has made little progress in adopting plain language writing,
either internally, or in communications with the public. People continue
to have difficulty using various government forms and understanding
public documents.
Workshop participants’ suggestions for action
Following plain language workshops, GNWT workers suggest a range of
actions the government could take to increase plain language use.
- Make available within government an editor, mentor, or group to
review written work.
- Identify application forms, travel claim forms, and assistance
forms for review and plain language editing.
- Monitor and give positive reinforcement to develop a plain language
pattern.
- Dispel the myth that plain language is dummying down. Help people
understand that it is about clarifying the message.
- Make introductory and intermediate level plain language training
mandatory throughout the government, rather than an option.
- Find a plain language champion, or “put someone dynamic in
charge.”
- Contract plain language services from professional consultants.
- Managers must look critically at existing documents and put money
in place to revise them.
- We need the buy-in of the Deputy Minister of each department. Start
with a GNWT policy and then work on departmental policies from there.
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