Plunging into the verbal quagmire of official language used by
bureaucrats in both government and business, distinguished linguist
Roger W. Shuy develops new techniques based on linguistic
principles to improve their communication with the public.
Shuy presents nine case studies that reveal representative
problems with bureaucratic language. He characterizes the traits of
bureaucratic language candidly, though somewhat sympathetically,
and he describes how linguists can provide bureaucrats with both
the tools for communicating more clearly and also the authority to
implement these changes.
Drawing on documents cited in class action lawsuits brought
against the Social Security Administration and Medicare, Shuy
offers a detailed linguistic analysis of these agencies' problems
with written and oral communication, and he outlines a training
program he developed for government writers to solve them. Moving
on to the private sector, Shuy analyzes examples of the ways that
businesses such as car dealerships, real estate and insurance
companies, and commercial manufacturers sometimes fail to
communicate effectively. Although typically bureaucracies change
their use of language only when a lawsuit threatens, Shuy argues
that clarity in communication is a cost effective strategy for
preventing or at least reducing litigation.
"Bureaucratic Language in Government and Business" explains why
bureaucratic language can be so hard to understand and what can be
done about it.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!