Re: Lingua Franca Today
Ready for this...I disagree. I think most people are smart - its just that
they revert to idiocy if they can. Most writers accept this as fact and
therefore treat their readers like morons. Thus, you treat them like
morons, they behave like morons.
My attitude has always been to educate my readers and give them more than
just "do this, do that, buy an upgrade" kind of instructions. Give them
the geek-speak and tell them what it all means. In the end - they learn
something and you actually communicate something.
You and I are writing for different audiences. I do not write for
geeks. I write for the other 90% of the population.
That 90% has to learn some time. Why not empower them with some words and
education that they can use. If you treat them like babies - they will
respond, like babies.
Andrew Plato
1/16/02 ... from the 'Lingua Franca Today' thread
If you are plugged in with your client to such a level that you know they
enjoy flowery language, then...ra!
However, as many people have pointed out, most places don't like flowery
language. If a writer turned in a doc to me with "lingua franca" in it, I
would edit it out and tell them to cease and desist on the big words. A
lot of other places would as well.
...
Andrew Plato
Andrew,
I don't understand something. What's the difference? 'Geek speek' won't affect the reader's attention adversely but 'flowery language' will? I see some similarity here in the argument. You appearto me to be defending both sides of the argument. What has changed in that time?
s
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