In defense of clear and accessible language

In December 1875, the Dominican Manuel de Jesús de Peña gave a speech at the Lovers of Light Society of Santiago in which he defended the knowledge and proper use of the Spanish language as a guarantee of Dominican freedom:

«The study of our rich language is a guarantee of independence and freedom... How can we not revolt upon hearing in a foreign language all the names of the objects that are most dear to us in our homeland?... And liberal ideas , so beautiful in themselves, are even more beautiful when expressed in a beautiful language; and only liberal ideas can eradicate absolutist practices.»

The Second Convention of the Pan-Hispanic Network for Clear and Accessible Language was just held in Lima , Peru. I had the honor of participating as director of the Guzmán Ariza Institute of Lexicography and a member of the Dominican Academy of Language.

The Network works to ensure that public administrations and public and private institutions commit to using clear and accessible Spanish in their communications with citizens.

We are convinced that this is a transcendent task of social responsibility : clear and accessible language in the relationship between power, of any kind, and the individual is the foundation of democratic values ​​and a guarantee of respect for citizens' rights.

While we were working in Lima to design initiatives that strengthen the right of all citizens to understand the language of the laws that govern us, and which we are obliged to respect, I remembered Manuel de Jesús de Peña , the Dominican who understood that the proper use of the Spanish language was a " guarantee of independence and freedom."

Correct, clearer, and more accessible language makes it easier for us to access public information and promotes transparency in the exercise of government.

Today, in this little piece of history that we have been given to live through, it is more important than ever for citizens to speak out; it is more important than ever for citizens to participate in public life .

When citizens remain silent , because they do not understand or because they are afraid to express themselves , someone always appears to speak for them, with or without their consent.

The main objective of this Pan-Hispanic Network of Clear and Accessible Language is to loudly and clearly demand the fundamental right of all people to understand.

We are committed to working within our institutions on specific projects that promote the use of Spanish that is correct , appropriate, understandable, and empathetic to the person we are addressing.

How many times have you come across a list of requirements , a certificate , or a contract that's completely unintelligible? There are many reasons behind the obscurity of this incomprehensible language .

We generally start with an incorrect use of the Spanish language ; if we add to this institutional laziness when it comes to communicating with citizens and the crazy idea that writing in a convoluted way makes us appear more educated, we have the perfect storm: administrative texts that seem written so we can't understand them.

Together, we on the Internet are joining forces to move closer to a society in which citizens understand those they have elected to govern and administer them; only then will we also move closer to equality , inclusion, and social justice.

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