THE PLAGUE

Government officialese baffling (Michael Higgins, July 31, 2003, National Post)

In the annals of bureaucratic officialese, the press release about a cash grant from Human Resources Development Canada to the francophone minority in Yukon certainly ranks near the top.

"Through its economic development and employability network (RDEE), the Association franco-yukonnaise will use these funds to implement a strategy aimed at enhancing the vitality of the community by supporting its socio-economic development through human resources planning and work force adjustment activities."

Mr. Keller, from the University of Victoria, said, "God knows what that means. I think the only words missing were diversity and multiculturalism." [...]

Jim Marino, a professor emeritus of English with the University of Alberta, said, "I think it becomes unconscious and second nature for people in bureaucracy to do this."

Mr. Marino, who has been asked by attorneys and politicians for his expertise in interpreting legislation, said bureaucrats who try to write in plain language are often thought of as ignorant and uninformed by their superiors. "People are taught that this is the proper language for the bureaucrat. It's like a virus; it simply spreads and no one notices that they are infected."

A virus with no known cure... Posted by Orrin Judd at August 1, 2003 12:44 PM