TEDxO'Porto
Sandra Fisher-Martins: The right to understand
Filmed:
Readability: 3.2
345,660 views
Medical, legal, and financial documents should be easy to read, but too often they aren't. With spot-on (and funny) examples, Sandra Fisher Martins shows how overly complex language separates us from the information we need -- and three steps to change that. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Sandra Fisher-Martins - Translator, plain language activist
Sandra Fisher-Martins fights “information apartheid” -- the barrier created by overly complex language. Full bio
Sandra Fisher-Martins fights “information apartheid” -- the barrier created by overly complex language. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:07
The story I want to tell you about, started to me,
0
57
3616
00:10
in 1996 when I was studying in England.
1
3673
4152
00:14
One day, I was glancing through my bank statement
(I didn't have much to look at)
(I didn't have much to look at)
2
7825
4164
00:18
and I've noticed that in the upper corner there was
a symbol, that I'm going to show you,
a symbol, that I'm going to show you,
3
11989
5242
00:24
saying that document had been made in
plain language, for me to understand it.
plain language, for me to understand it.
4
17331
4459
00:28
The idea interested me; I tried to find out
what that was
what that was
5
21790
2340
00:31
and I found out that there was a campaign for the
simplification of language,
simplification of language,
6
24130
4168
00:35
which was the "Plain English Campaign".
7
28298
1741
00:37
I thought it was a fabulous idea, for about
one day or two,
one day or two,
8
30085
2925
00:40
and I've never thought about it since.
9
33010
1739
00:41
When I came back to Portugal, for good,
10
34810
2475
00:44
I came across with several documents - for example,
my work contract,
my work contract,
11
37285
5145
00:49
the papers I had to sign to buy a house,
the electricity bill --
the electricity bill --
12
42430
4697
00:54
a series of documents that reminded me of
that bank statement.
that bank statement.
13
47127
3401
00:57
Not because they were equally clear and simple,
14
50528
3577
01:01
but because they were the exact opposite.
15
54105
2606
01:03
Because I had to read everything twice or thrice,
to begin to understand what was written there.
to begin to understand what was written there.
16
56711
4794
01:08
And then, that little seed that had been sown
in 1996, started germinating.
in 1996, started germinating.
17
61505
6856
01:15
And one day, I found myself
18
68423
1751
01:17
entering through my boss' office and quitting
my job to dedicate myself to this.
my job to dedicate myself to this.
19
70174
4000
01:21
And so, what did I find out, right off the start?
20
74174
3460
01:24
I found out that it was a much more severe problem
than I thought.
than I thought.
21
77634
2924
01:27
It wasn't only about these documents being
complex and annoying,
complex and annoying,
22
80558
4466
01:32
it was the fact that Portuguese people's literacy --
23
85024
3300
01:35
literacy is the hability to understand written documents --
24
88324
2835
01:38
is extremely low. I'm going to show you a chart about Portuguese people's literacy [rate].
25
91159
5533
01:43
You know that about 10, 11% of people, in Portugal,
26
96692
3581
01:47
don't know how to read nor write at all, yet.
27
100273
2809
01:50
Over there are those who know, or say they know,
how to read and write. So, what do we have?
how to read and write. So, what do we have?
28
103082
4215
01:54
We have that group of red people in level 1,
which is the lowest in literacy [rate].
which is the lowest in literacy [rate].
29
107297
5360
01:59
They are persons who are able to join letters,
30
112657
3324
02:02
but they can't, actually, understand.
31
115981
2548
02:05
For example, if a person, from that red group,
has to pick up
has to pick up
32
118529
3687
02:09
the package leaflet of a medicinal product,
to give a dose of medicine to his/her child,
to give a dose of medicine to his/her child,
33
122216
5280
02:14
he/she can't, can't understand the information.
34
127496
2469
02:16
50% of the Portuguese. Then we have 30% more,
those yellow ones,
those yellow ones,
35
129965
5128
02:22
over there, people who get by
on the daily basis.
on the daily basis.
36
135093
4551
02:26
That is, if they don't have to read anything too new
or too different, they will manage.
or too different, they will manage.
37
139644
3374
02:30
But, for example, if they work in a factory and
a new machine arrives
a new machine arrives
38
143018
3700
02:33
and they have to read the machine's manual
to be able to work with it, they can't do it anymore.
to be able to work with it, they can't do it anymore.
39
146718
4898
02:38
And there they go, 80% of the Portuguese people.
40
151616
4452
02:43
Then we have a few more that can handle documents,
41
156068
2616
02:45
as long as they are not too complex,
42
158684
1427
02:47
and we have 5% of the population that
can handle really complex documents.
can handle really complex documents.
43
160111
5439
02:52
Now, just so you don't think this is normal,
that over there is Sweden.
that over there is Sweden.
44
165550
5037
02:57
While we have 20% of people with the literacy
considered essential for a daily basis,
considered essential for a daily basis,
45
170587
5349
03:02
Sweden has 75%.
46
175936
3517
03:06
And looking at that, what did I realize?
47
179453
2108
03:08
I realized we live in an apartheid of information.
48
181561
3335
03:11
I realized that there's a small minority of people
who has indeed access to information
who has indeed access to information
49
184896
5751
03:17
and can use it to their advantage and
a huge majority that can't.
a huge majority that can't.
50
190647
5394
03:23
And because they can't, they are excluded
and they are impaired.
and they are impaired.
51
196041
3806
03:26
Let me give you an example.
52
199847
2016
03:28
That one is Mr. Domingos, my building's doorkeeper. Mr. Domingos started to read at the age of 27,
53
201863
5367
03:34
so, he falls in that yellow group that
we have seen a little while ago.
we have seen a little while ago.
54
207230
3048
03:37
From time to time, I'm arriving home and he says:
55
210278
1953
03:39
"Miss Sandra!"; "Yes, Mr. Domingos."
56
212231
2131
03:41
"Here is a little letter." So, the deal is: when Mr. Domingos or someone in the family or in the neighbourhood
57
214362
4519
03:45
receives something that they don't understand,
they come to me and I help them to translate it.
they come to me and I help them to translate it.
58
218881
3695
03:49
And so, that time he said to me like this:
59
222576
1610
03:51
"Oh, Miss Sandra, I'm about to throw this away,
but check it if this is important."
but check it if this is important."
60
224186
3725
03:54
It was very important. He had been waiting,
for quite a while, to have a knee surgery
for quite a while, to have a knee surgery
61
227911
4826
03:59
and that was the letter of the famous surgery-bank
checks. When a person is waiting for a long time,
checks. When a person is waiting for a long time,
62
232737
3860
04:03
they get a bank check and with that bank check
they can have that surgery in the private sector.
they can have that surgery in the private sector.
63
236597
3691
04:07
It was almost thrown away into the garbage,
Mr. Domingos' letter.
Mr. Domingos' letter.
64
240288
3036
04:10
In that same year, I've found out,
65
243324
2151
04:12
only 20% of people had used these
surgery-bank checks.
surgery-bank checks.
66
245475
3594
04:16
The other 80%, I don't believe they had been cured
while they were waiting.
while they were waiting.
67
249069
6087
04:22
They most likely did the same as Mr. Domingos:
68
255156
3036
04:25
"Ah! What's this? I'm not understanding,
it's going to the garbage".
it's going to the garbage".
69
258192
2295
04:27
They lost the opportunity to have the surgery
they needed.
they needed.
70
260487
2949
04:30
What happens here? When people don't understand
71
263436
4303
04:34
this has severe consequences -- to the individual,
but also for the country.
but also for the country.
72
267739
3568
04:38
When I don't understand which are my rights,
the benefits I can have access to,
the benefits I can have access to,
73
271307
3212
04:41
I can't understand my duties and I'm not
an active and participative citizen either.
an active and participative citizen either.
74
274519
4849
04:46
Now, maybe, you are sitting there and thinking:
75
279368
4060
04:50
"Yeah, poor Mr. Domingos... Bad luck, isn't it?
Me?! I'm in the green ones."
Me?! I'm in the green ones."
76
283428
3987
04:54
"I'm absolutely sure that I'm one of the green ones.
I was selected to come to TED! Hum?" (Laughter)
I was selected to come to TED! Hum?" (Laughter)
77
287415
4053
04:58
So the deal is: I have here some texts to read to you
78
291468
4328
05:02
and I'm going to see what color are you
when I finish reading.
when I finish reading.
79
295796
3844
05:06
So, come on, this is an automobile insurance
contract. It says this:
contract. It says this:
80
299640
3699
05:10
"Unless contrary stipulation, the decease of the ensured person, the ensured capital is provided,
81
303339
6486
05:16
in case of predeceasing of the beneficiary relatively to the ensured person, to the heirs of the last,
82
309825
5835
05:22
in case of the simultaneous decease of the ensured person and of the beneficiary,
83
315660
3429
05:26
to the heirs of the last". Hum? (Laughter)
84
319089
2402
05:28
Next, there's another one, from the medicines'
package leaflet, that says the following:
package leaflet, that says the following:
85
321491
5044
05:33
"Warning! It may also occur erythema, edema,
vesiculation, keratolysis and urticaria."
vesiculation, keratolysis and urticaria."
86
326535
7403
05:40
Hum? Are you clear?
87
333999
2822
05:44
And this one is really good. This one, I signed
a renting contract to the new office on Friday
a renting contract to the new office on Friday
88
337005
3391
05:47
and I laughed my head off.
89
340396
1328
05:48
So, it said: "I, as a cosigner, assume the opportune
payment of the rents,
payment of the rents,
90
341724
5560
05:54
waiving the benefits of the division
and prior foreclosure."
and prior foreclosure."
91
347284
3816
05:58
When I heard "opportune payment" ["storm payment"
in Portuguese], I imagined myself bursting in there,
in Portuguese], I imagined myself bursting in there,
92
351100
3512
06:01
slamming the door and saying: "Here's the money!!!"
(Laughter)
(Laughter)
93
354612
3886
06:05
But it's not! (Laughter) (Applause)
94
358498
1349
06:06
But it's not! (Applause)
95
359847
949
06:07
(Applause)
96
360796
1205
06:09
(Applause)
97
362001
2921
06:11
So, it's this: when we leave our area of expertise --
98
364999
3984
06:15
and it only takes a little; there is no need to go
to the string theory or something like that,
to the string theory or something like that,
99
368983
3629
06:19
it only takes a little... (Laughter)
100
372612
1590
06:21
What happens?
101
374202
1741
06:22
We get as lost as Mr. Domingos.
102
375943
3696
06:26
And these documents are not written
by experts to experts,
by experts to experts,
103
379639
3973
06:30
as the ones from the string theory.
104
383612
1849
06:32
No! These are documents written for me,
these are the public documents,
these are the public documents,
105
385461
3448
06:35
the public documents I need to understand
in my daily life,
in my daily life,
106
388909
3704
06:39
to govern myself, to live my life.
107
392613
1590
06:41
These are the renting contracts, the package leaflet
of the medicines.
of the medicines.
108
394203
2735
06:43
It's all this. The electricity bills.
109
396938
2989
06:47
This has to be clear, so that I can understand.
110
400096
1873
06:48
Because, if I can't understand, what happens?
111
401969
2360
06:51
I make mistakes, I get wrong.
112
404329
3329
06:54
I'm going to give you an example of mistakes that
were committed, bad decisions made
were committed, bad decisions made
113
407658
4033
06:58
for not being able to understand documents.
114
411691
2244
07:00
Do you remember the subprime crisis that
took place in the United States?
took place in the United States?
115
413935
3739
07:04
What happened?
116
417674
2197
07:06
People signed those loans to buy houses,
117
419871
2977
07:09
without truly understanding what they were signing.
118
422848
2223
07:12
Because if they knew what they were signing,
119
425071
2264
07:14
they'd know that as soon as the interest rate started
to rise, the monthly payment would also increase,
to rise, the monthly payment would also increase,
120
427335
6150
07:20
they wouldn't be able to pay anymore and
they would end up without a house.
they would end up without a house.
121
433485
3184
07:23
So, the rest, after that, next, everything
crumbled down and we know the rest.
crumbled down and we know the rest.
122
436669
4057
07:27
Do you think that if there was a culture of clarity
in the financial sector
in the financial sector
123
440726
5263
07:32
things would have got up to where they've got?
124
445989
2027
07:35
I don't think so. So,
125
448016
3505
07:38
how do you solve this problem,
126
451521
3326
07:41
this such big difference between the
literacy [rate] of the Portuguese,
literacy [rate] of the Portuguese,
127
454909
3157
07:45
that is down here, and the complexity
of the public documents,
of the public documents,
128
458097
3019
07:48
those ones we need to understand
in our daily lives, sorry,
in our daily lives, sorry,
129
461116
3467
07:51
that are up here?
130
464583
1574
07:53
So, the first think that comes to mind is,
131
466157
2571
07:55
"If literacy is down here, let's make it rise" -- isn't it?
132
468728
3276
07:59
Let's educate people.
133
472004
1922
08:00
Let's, let's... of course we will,
of course we will educate people.
of course we will educate people.
134
473942
3135
08:04
The thing is, it's hard and it's slow.
And I don't even want to imagine
And I don't even want to imagine
135
477077
4119
08:08
how many generations it will take until we are
at Sweden's level.
at Sweden's level.
136
481196
4155
08:12
But, besides that, it's not only because it is slow.
There is another problem.
There is another problem.
137
485351
2497
08:14
If the language of the documents
isn't simpler,
isn't simpler,
138
487848
3833
08:18
we've already seen that people, even with
a high literacy level, like you,
a high literacy level, like you,
139
491681
4999
08:23
if the language is hard, they don't get cleared,
140
496680
3164
08:26
they continue to be unable to understand
these documents.
these documents.
141
499844
2898
08:29
So, besides increasing literacy [rate], and for now,
142
502742
4004
08:33
it's much more important to reduce
the complexity of documents
the complexity of documents
143
506746
4094
08:37
and simplify the language.
144
510901
2818
08:42
I'm going to show you an example.
145
515304
2001
08:44
When I talk about simplifying the language.
Notice!
Notice!
146
517305
2001
08:46
On the left side of a contract:
147
519306
4075
08:50
"It is agreed that the insurance company, bla bla bla,
bla bla bla, bla bla..."
bla bla bla, bla bla..."
148
523381
3434
08:53
This is a before and after example. What do we mean with simplifying language?
149
526815
4499
08:58
It's communicating in a simple and clear way,
enabling our reader to understand it at first glance.
enabling our reader to understand it at first glance.
150
531314
7805
09:06
What do you prefer? Before or after?
151
539119
3924
09:10
There isn't much doubt, is there?
152
543043
2268
09:12
So, how is this achieved? How can you make
the State and companies communicate
the State and companies communicate
153
545311
6138
09:18
with citizens in a language they can understand
at first glance?
at first glance?
154
551449
3209
09:21
There are several ways. There are countries
that are going by the path of legislation.
that are going by the path of legislation.
155
554658
3421
09:25
For example, Sweden and the United States
introduced, last year, a legislation that forces
introduced, last year, a legislation that forces
156
558079
6065
09:31
the State to communicate with people in
a language they can understand.
a language they can understand.
157
564144
3505
09:34
And you think, "Well, that's normal.
They are countries that are a bit ahead.
They are countries that are a bit ahead.
158
567649
3005
09:37
"Sweden, maybe, much more than the United States.
159
570654
2461
09:40
"But they are countries that are a bit ahead.
160
573115
1650
09:41
"It would be nice if in our country there was also
legislation towards that, wouldn't it be?"
legislation towards that, wouldn't it be?"
161
574765
3549
09:45
So it would. And there is! Since 1999.
162
578314
4548
09:49
The Law of the Administrative Modernization
says that
says that
163
582862
2722
09:52
the communication between the State and the people
164
585584
2676
09:55
should be simple, clear, concise, meaningful,
without acronyms, bla bla bla...
without acronyms, bla bla bla...
165
588260
5353
10:00
But the thing is: it is not applied. So, the question,
166
593613
2047
10:02
the path of going through legislation,
enforcing through legislation,
enforcing through legislation,
167
595660
3268
10:05
works in those countries where laws
are made to be applied.
are made to be applied.
168
598928
3994
10:09
Now, there is another way, the way of marketing.
169
602922
4571
10:14
How does that work? It's like this:
170
607493
2707
10:17
private companies change their language;
communicate in a clearer and simpler way,
communicate in a clearer and simpler way,
171
610200
4647
10:21
they make a big fuss about it, consumers love it,
172
614847
2262
10:24
the sales rise, it works beautifully.
173
617109
2874
10:26
But it works for the private sector.
174
619983
1990
10:28
Now, what is the third path, and to me,
the most important one?
the most important one?
175
621973
5047
10:34
It's the path of civil movements,
176
627020
2265
10:36
that are based in a mentality shift.
177
629316
2625
10:38
In countries where this really went forward --
178
631987
2641
10:41
do you remember the English label, of the
"Plain English Campaign"? --
"Plain English Campaign"? --
179
634628
2159
10:43
this is all based on a consumers' movement.
180
636787
3189
10:46
So, what does it take for that civic movement
to happen?
to happen?
181
639976
4527
10:51
We need to understand two very important things:
182
644503
2847
10:54
First, wanting to understand these
public documents is not a whim,
public documents is not a whim,
183
647350
5031
10:59
is not an intellectual curiosity.
184
652381
2348
11:01
It is a necessity that I have in my daily life.
185
654729
2168
11:03
And above all, it is a right, it is everyone's right.
186
656897
3148
11:07
On this side we have: understanding is a right.
187
660045
3745
11:10
And we have to understand another thing too,
188
663790
1604
11:12
which is: he who writes, has to write in order
to be understood.
to be understood.
189
665410
3573
11:15
How do we get there?
190
668983
2051
11:18
First of all: we have to become demanding
consumers and citizens.
consumers and citizens.
191
671034
4926
11:22
Think it this way: next time someone
gives you a document
gives you a document
192
675960
4475
11:27
that you just simply don't understand, don't be shy,
193
680435
2993
11:30
don't keep quiet, pretending that you are
understanding everything.
understanding everything.
194
683428
2724
11:33
No! Demand to understand. Ask.
195
686152
2620
11:35
I know that this is not easy. Turn to the gentleman
in the little suite and say:
in the little suite and say:
196
688772
3295
11:39
"Look here, this contract, this part,
what does this mean?"
what does this mean?"
197
692067
3130
11:42
It's not easy, and perhaps it's even a bit
embarrassing, isn't it?
embarrassing, isn't it?
198
695197
4214
11:46
But it is not. It's a sign of intelligence.
199
699411
2033
11:48
What do you teach your children when
they have doubts in school?
they have doubts in school?
200
701444
3540
11:51
"Don't say nothing to anyone, shut up really good
and act smart."
and act smart."
201
704984
3589
11:55
No, you don't, right? You say:
202
708573
1784
11:57
"Look, when you don't understand, you put your hand
up in the air and ask the teacher until you are cleared."
up in the air and ask the teacher until you are cleared."
203
710357
3859
12:01
And that is exactly what we have to do,
as consumers and citizens.
as consumers and citizens.
204
714216
4004
12:05
So, next time you come across with
a document you don't understand,
a document you don't understand,
205
718220
4625
12:09
demand to understand, put aside your pride and ask
206
722845
2806
12:12
until you get completely cleared.
207
725651
2140
12:14
Then, there's the other side, which is:
"Okay, these awful documents
"Okay, these awful documents
208
727791
5491
12:20
"which are in circulation, they don't grow on trees.
209
733282
2107
12:22
"Someone wrote them." Hum?
210
735389
2094
12:24
Maybe, among this big group, some persons...
211
737483
4503
12:28
I don't know, some lawyers, some public employees --
I'm not asking you to identify yourselves,
I'm not asking you to identify yourselves,
212
741986
4653
12:33
but I ask you to search your own conscience.
213
746639
2533
12:36
How many times do you write documents
for the general public,
for the general public,
214
749172
3339
12:39
for people that don't share your language,
215
752511
2616
12:42
and you write them in a language that
only you will understand?
only you will understand?
216
755127
2669
12:44
And you'll say: "Ah, that's because
there is a reason, here!"
there is a reason, here!"
217
757796
3025
12:47
Dear friends, I already heard all the reasons.
218
760821
1592
12:49
There are thousands of reasons. They go like these:
219
762413
2765
12:52
"Ah, it's the house's culture"; "Oh, my boss!"
220
765178
1974
12:54
"Oh, the judge! And what if this goes to court?"
221
767152
2775
12:56
"What you want is to destroy language.
We have to educate people."
We have to educate people."
222
769927
2581
12:59
"We can't lower the level"; bla, bla, bla...
223
772508
1975
13:01
I've seen all of this. These are excuses.
224
774483
2421
13:03
A while ago, they told us about Einstein.
225
776904
2571
13:06
Einstein said this: "If you can't write about a subject,
226
779475
3878
13:10
in a simple way, it's because, in fact,
you don't understand it."
you don't understand it."
227
783353
2740
13:13
So, if you... (Applause)
228
786093
3544
13:16
To Einstein... (Applause)
229
789637
1910
13:18
To Einstein...(Applause)
230
791547
1661
13:20
So -- ah, ah, I don't have time! --
231
793208
2699
13:22
so, if you do know what you want to say --
don't you? --
don't you? --
232
795907
4572
13:27
you are aware of what you want to say,
233
800479
2166
13:29
you just have to do one thing: believe that it is
possible to write in a simple way.
possible to write in a simple way.
234
802645
4740
13:34
And how do you do that?
235
807385
1738
13:36
It's very easy. You write to your grandmother.
Hum?
Hum?
236
809123
3911
13:40
You write to your grandmother. I'm going
to show grandma to you.
to show grandma to you.
237
813034
1848
13:41
(Laughter)
238
814882
2310
13:44
You write with respect and without paternalism.
239
817192
1759
13:45
And you use three techniques that I'm going
to teach you. First of all:
to teach you. First of all:
240
818951
3499
13:49
Start by the most important.
241
822450
2236
13:51
Grandma has a lot to do. She is not going to read
three pages to get to the main idea.
three pages to get to the main idea.
242
824686
3879
13:55
Start by the most important.
243
828565
2201
13:57
Next, use short sentences, because grandma,
244
830766
3672
14:01
like anyone of us,
245
834438
1210
14:02
if you make very long sentences,
246
835648
1677
14:04
she gets to the end and she can't remember what
you said in the beginning, anymore.
you said in the beginning, anymore.
247
837325
2534
14:06
And lastly, the third, use plain words, those ones
that grandma knows.
that grandma knows.
248
839859
4656
14:11
Alright? It's easy!
249
844515
2318
14:13
Before I leave,
250
846833
1565
14:15
I would like to talk to you about "Clara" (Clear).
"Clara" is a project of social responsibility.
"Clara" is a project of social responsibility.
251
848398
3018
14:18
It has this mission: to change the way how public communication is made.
252
851416
3892
14:22
What do we do?
253
855308
931
14:23
We are going to launch this year
a collection of "Claro" guides,
a collection of "Claro" guides,
254
856239
3787
14:27
that is, we are going to pick very, very,
very complex subjects and put them simple.
very complex subjects and put them simple.
255
860026
4097
14:31
We are going to start with the
"Claro" Guide of Justice.
"Claro" Guide of Justice.
256
864123
2180
14:33
I think it is an area... that comes in handy.
(Applause)
(Applause)
257
866303
3867
14:37
And now I'm going to follow Manuel [Forjaz]'s advise.
If it's time to ask,
If it's time to ask,
258
870170
2582
14:39
whoever wants to sponsor the
"Claro" Guide of Justice -- I don't know...
"Claro" Guide of Justice -- I don't know...
259
872752
3014
14:42
for example, the EDP Foundation, or...ha? --
260
875766
3068
14:45
come talk to me later.
261
878834
2878
14:48
Another thing we will do is to grant prizes
to the worse and best documents,
to the worse and best documents,
262
881712
4334
14:53
because, indeed, there are people who are working
to communicate in a clearer way,
to communicate in a clearer way,
263
886046
3519
14:56
and that have to be rewarded,
264
889565
1249
14:57
and there are lazy people that do nothing
about it and need to be humiliated.
about it and need to be humiliated.
265
890814
3593
15:01
So, we'll give prizes to the worst and to the best.
266
894407
2405
15:03
I'm counting on your help. (Applause)
267
896812
1741
15:05
(Applause)
268
898553
4523
15:10
We are going to launch... we are going to launch
the campaign via Clara's Facebook,
the campaign via Clara's Facebook,
269
903076
4015
15:14
so, send your friendship request and
you'll be up to date.
you'll be up to date.
270
907091
3091
15:17
But, lastly, above all, what does "Clara" want?
271
910182
2426
15:19
It wants to put two little things in your heads.
272
912608
1817
15:21
The first one: demand to understand. Don't be shy.
273
914425
3644
15:25
And write in order to be understood.
Write to your grandma.
Write to your grandma.
274
918069
4281
15:29
And if you don't have a grandmother, write to
Mr. Domingos, he will like it.
Mr. Domingos, he will like it.
275
922350
4416
15:33
Thank you. (Applause)
276
926766
2877
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sandra Fisher-Martins - Translator, plain language activistSandra Fisher-Martins fights “information apartheid” -- the barrier created by overly complex language.
Why you should listen
Sandra Fisher Martins helps Portuguese businesses and government agencies introduce clarity to their communications. After seeing a Plain English campaign in England, she was inspired to establish Portugues Claro -- a consulting and training firm that works to ensure that people are not disenfranchised by what she calls an "information apartheid" that keeps the majority of her fellow Portuguese from fully understanding documents they need for their daily lives. She is working to develop Euro-clear, a European diploma in clear communication.
Find more examples of plain language at Portugues Claro's website.
Sandra Fisher-Martins | Speaker | TED.com