Re: Displays versus Appears-Which One? (Passive Voice)

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>]

Gerry Barnes-Hampton wrote:

> FYI: When I was doing a contract in Australian 
> Dept of Immigration & Ethnic Affairs, I was advised 
> not to write "Press Enter to ..." for Japanese
> audiences as it is too direct and not "polite enough.


I wrote:

> And the relevance of this anecdote to a discussion about 
> forbidding the passive voice would be ... ?

Robert Partridge wrote:

> I thought it was obvious. Gerry was stating that in some 
> circumstances passive voice is not only better from a 
> readability point of view, but that using direct voice 
> might be translated as far too direct for some cultures
> or situations.



I hope Mr Partridge can define "direct voice." I've not run into 
this concept before.

Of course this is, as one of our Prime Ministers
is supposed to have said, the "arse end of the world"
and news of newly discovered linguistic structures
is slow to travel. (Camels being in short supply.)

On second thought, maybe just a quick dip into Strunk and 
White, page 18, would obviate the need for a camel trek.

-- 
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia


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