Do Now #25: Do Now #25: • Circle the letter of the more Circle the letter of the more

appropriately worded sentence in each appropriately worded sentence in each pair. pair.

• Assume an educated audience of Assume an educated audience of nonexperts, and be prepared to explain nonexperts, and be prepared to explain your choices.your choices.

• What kind of language is appropriate in What kind of language is appropriate in your draft?your draft?

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

1.1. Stay away from jargonStay away from jargon– Specialized, puffed-up languageSpecialized, puffed-up language

Jargon: For years the indigenous body politic of Jargon: For years the indigenous body politic of South Africa attempted to negotiate legal South Africa attempted to negotiate legal enfranchisement without result. enfranchisement without result.

Revised: For years the indigenous people of Revised: For years the indigenous people of South Africa negotiated in vain for the right South Africa negotiated in vain for the right to vote. to vote.

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

• All employees functioning in the All employees functioning in the capacity of work-study students are capacity of work-study students are required to give evidence of current required to give evidence of current enrollment. enrollment. • All work-study students must prove All work-study students must prove

that they are currently enrolled. that they are currently enrolled.

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

• Mayor Summers will commence his Mayor Summers will commence his term of office by ameliorating living term of office by ameliorating living conditions in economically deprived conditions in economically deprived zones.zones.

• Mayor Summers will begin his term of Mayor Summers will begin his term of office by improving living conditions in office by improving living conditions in poor neighborhoods.poor neighborhoods.

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate choose appropriate language language in your writing?in your writing?

2.2. Avoid pretentious language, most Avoid pretentious language, most euphemisms, and “doublespeak.” euphemisms, and “doublespeak.” – Euphemisms—nice sounding words Euphemisms—nice sounding words

or phrasesor phrases– Doublespeak—evasive or deceptive Doublespeak—evasive or deceptive

languagelanguage

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate language choose appropriate language in your writing?in your writing?

Euphemism• Pre-owned Pre-owned

AutomobileAutomobile• Economically deprivedEconomically deprived• Negative savingsNegative savings• Chemical dependencyChemical dependency• Correctional facilityCorrectional facility

Plain EnglishPlain English• Used CarUsed Car• PoorPoor• DebtsDebts• Drug addictionDrug addiction• PrisonPrison

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate language choose appropriate language in your writing?in your writing?

Plain EnglishPlain English• Airplane crashAirplane crash

• MissilesMissiles

• The pacemakers might The pacemakers might suddenly stop suddenly stop functioning and cause functioning and cause a heart attack or even a heart attack or even death.death.

““Doublespeak”Doublespeak”• Uncontrolled contact Uncontrolled contact

with groundwith ground• PeacekeepersPeacekeepers• May result in sudden May result in sudden

adverse health adverse health consequences in pace-consequences in pace-maker dependent patients maker dependent patients as a result of sudden ‘no as a result of sudden ‘no output’output’ failure failure

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate language choose appropriate language in your writing?in your writing?

• In my youth, my family was under the constraints of difficult material circumstances.

• In my youth, my family was poor. • Have you ever been accused of

flagellating a deceased equine? • Have you ever been accused of beating

a dead horse?

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate language choose appropriate language in your in your writing?writing?

When our progenitors reach their silver-When our progenitors reach their silver-haired and golden years, we frequently haired and golden years, we frequently ensepulcher them in homes for ensepulcher them in homes for senescent beings as if they were already senescent beings as if they were already among the deceased. among the deceased.

When our parents become old, we When our parents become old, we frequently entomb them in old-age frequently entomb them in old-age homes as if they were already dead. homes as if they were already dead.

Aim: How do you Aim: How do you choose appropriate language choose appropriate language in your writing?in your writing?

• Activity Page (216-217):Activity Page (216-217): • Suppose you were editing a textbook for a Suppose you were editing a textbook for a

group of educated non-expertsgroup of educated non-experts. . • Working with your group, translate Working with your group, translate

numbers numbers one to fiveone to five by by rewriting the rewriting the sentences without any euphemisms of sentences without any euphemisms of doublespeak. doublespeak.