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Article: Thirty years of gobbledegook PRIZE BULL The Plain English Campaign has always fought the war on waffle. Now is warns the greatest threat to our language comes from technology
- Article from:
- The Sunday Telegraph London
- Article date:
- July 26, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Sunday Telegraph London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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IT BEGAN three decades ago as a fight against baffling
bureaucratic language and small print that didn't make sense.
But 30 years on, the Plain English Campaign is warning of a new
threat to clear communication posed by technological jargon and the
abbreviations used in text messages.
Chrissie Maher, who began the war on waffle on this day in 1979,
said the increasing acceptance of "text speak" and street slang
could prevent younger generations from benefiting from simpler
language.
The 71-year-old said: "Youngsters have their own jargon and
that's all very well in its place, but if they aren't taught plain
English it will hold them back when it comes to applying for jobs,
signing hospital ...