The Social Justice Impact of Plain Language: A Critical Approach to Plain-Language Analysis
| Autor: | Natasha N. Jones, Miriam F. Williams |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Human rights
business.industry media_common.quotation_subject 05 social sciences 050301 education Usability 02 engineering and technology Public relations Comprehension Critical discourse analysis Dignity 020204 information systems Plain English Industrial relations Agency (sociology) 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering Sociology Electrical and Electronic Engineering Plain language business 0503 education Social psychology media_common |
| Zdroj: | IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 60:412-429 |
| ISSN: | 1558-1500 0361-1434 |
| Popis: | Introduction: This study investigates how plain language, examined from a social justice perspective, is implemented in mortgage documents and what the implications are for African-American homebuyers. About the case: We argue that plain language has the potential to engage issues of human dignity and human rights because language accessibility in documents plays a large role in how citizens engage in civic and social activities. In regard to the home ownership process, in which African-American homebuyers are more likely to experience discrimination, we need a study of the implementation of plain language in documents that might contribute to communication breakdowns between the banking industry and this historically marginalized group. Situating the case: We examine plain language from a social-justice stance by turning a more critical eye toward how and why plain-language guidelines are implemented. Methods/approach: Our study focused on the initial disclosure statements for adjustable-rate mortgages. We paired critical discourse analysis with the Securities and Exchange Commission's Plain English Handbook guidelines for disclosure statements to analyze three disclosure statements. Results/discussion: We found that, generally speaking, each of the three disclosure statements effectively adhered to plain-language recommendations. However, the idea that plain language increases accessibility, reader comprehension, and usability is complicated, and the accessibility and usability of each document varied. Conclusions: We advocate for a human-centered approach that explores ways that plain-language guidelines can be applied along with a critical focus on amplifying agency and reducing inequity. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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