Semantics:
'The meaning or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form: We're basically agreed; let's not quibble over semantics.'
But when you're involved with Standards unfortunately you have to…and we do…a lot!
Most of our jobs involve reading, interpreting and understanding the requirements laid out in various standards so that we can implement them into our own organisations or help others to implement them into theirs.
One of the functions of this and other 'quality management' forums is to provide a platform where open debate can take place on the meaning of this, that, or the other word, sentence, paragraph or clause contained in a particular Standard. In fact that's exactly why the SDF was conceived in the first place.
But should it be us who provide clarity? Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the technical committees who write the Standards to make every effort to ensure they are written in plain and simple language, language that even a layman could understand. Shouldn't clarity be one of the Standards writer's key performance indicators?
Sure technical standards by their very nature have to be ‘technical' (to an extent) but I think this is a bit of a cop out. Sometimes I think the boffins who write Standards must take some sort of pleasure in weaving their legalistic technical jargon into a tapestry of expert tosh.
Perhaps there should be a Standard for writing Standards, there probably is…there is!
http://isotc.iso.ch/...11/sds_base.htm
I've had a quick scan but couldn't find anything on ‘clarity' or the use of ‘plain language'…although I could be wrong. Even so its glaringly obvious the guidelines are not as effective as they could be.
So what can be done to improve things?
Has anyone heard of or seen the crystal mark logo (see attached). It's awarded by The Plain English Campaign, an independent pressure group fighting for public information to be written in plain English. You may have seen the logo along side the small print on some insurance documents, loans etc.
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk
The Plain English Campaign define plain English as:
'Something that the intended audience can read, understand and act upon the first time they read it. Plain English takes into account design and layout as well as language.'
A document is awarded the ‘crystal mark' when it has successfully passed through 35 technical tests as well as tests of ordinary people's understanding of the document.
I'm sure there will be similar approvals in other countries.
It sounds like a good idea to me. What do you think? Is it possible for technical Standards to be written in plain(er) English?
Regards,
Simon
- Home
- Sponsors
- Forums
- Members ˅
- Resources ˅
- Files
- FAQ ˅
- Jobs
-
Webinars ˅
- Upcoming Food Safety Fridays
- Recorded Food Safety Fridays
- Upcoming Hot Topics from Sponsors
- Recorded Hot Topics from Sponsors
- Food Safety Live 2013
- Food Safety Live 2014
- Food Safety Live 2015
- Food Safety Live 2016
- Food Safety Live 2017
- Food Safety Live 2018
- Food Safety Live 2019
- Food Safety Live 2020
- Food Safety Live 2021
- Training ˅
- Links
- Store ˅
- More