Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)

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With profound sadness and heavy hearts we share the news of the passing on September 29, during PLAIN2023, of our esteemed colleague Mario Tascón. A pillar of the plain language movement, especially in the Spanish-speaking world, and a beacon of inspiration to many and in many languages, Mario’s sudden departure has left an indelible void in our community. His contributions were immeasurable. His presence and generosity will be deeply missed. Yet his legacy will live on with colleagues, friends, and students and with the changes towards clear communication, accessibility, and transparency that he has envisioned, encouraged, and effected with passion, precision, and humility.

We share the words of a dear friend and esteemed colleague, Antonio Martín Fernández:

“It is very difficult to speak in the past of someone you expected to see soon, to hear about his ongoing projects. Mario Tascón was a discreet figure, but of enormous impact, of a legacy that we will continue to notice for years to come.

I would like to dedicate these words to him as if he were right here in front of me, although I know it would have been an embarrassing moment because he was not keen on flattery.

I can say that when I would try to launch a project that I thought was visionary, Mario had already been there and done that; he was part of every project that was truly innovative because he had his sights on the future and his feet on the ground. He was a Humanist in all senses of the word: promoting clear communication as a right was, above all, thinking about for example, the elderly, in terms of specific people. He knew that older people face tough challenges with medical information, so he wanted clear communication to help reverse the situation.

When the Ukrainian refugees arrived in Spain, he and his team launched an explanatory brochure with infographics to help with access to public healthcare. When he worked with Artificial Intelligence, it was mostly to help humans discover their own intelligence. And of course, he was passionate about books, that everyone should have access to them, and that is why he started his very own bookstore in his homeland of Ponferrada. He has been a humanist of science and of letters, striving to give new meaning to language so that we could all understand each other better: from the famous “understandable” fines in Madrid to the exposure of fake news. Mario was a discreet activist of words who went farther than anyone else.

And in his tribute, to be clear, nothing better than to be brief, and thank him for opening so many doors for us. If there is anyone to thank for the impulse of clear communication, of course, it is Mario. Let’s toast to him and his example.”

—

Español:

Con infinita tristeza y pesar compartimos la noticia del fallecimiento el 29 de septiembre, durante PLAIN2023, de nuestro queridísimo colega Mario Tascón. Pilar del movimiento del lenguaje claro, especialmente en el mundo hispanohablante, y fuente de inspiración para muchos y en muchos idiomas, la repentina marcha de Mario ha dejado un vacío insoslayable en esta comunidad profesional. Sus contribuciones son inconmensurables. Echaremos mucho de menos su presencia y su generosidad. Sin embargo, su legado perdurará entre colegas, amigos y estudiantes y en los cambios sobre comunicación clara, accesibilidad y transparencia que con pasión, precisión y humildad ha imaginado, fomentado y hecho realidad.

Compartimos las palabras de un queridísimo amigo y colega, Antonio Martín Fernández:

“Es muy difícil hablar en pasado de quien esperabas verlo pronto, saber de sus proyectos. Mario Tascón era una figura discreta, pero de un impacto enorme, de un legado que vamos a seguir notando durante años.

Me gustaría dedicarle estas palabras como si estuviera delante, aunque sé que sería un momento de bochorno porque no era persona de halagos.

Reconozco que cuando yo trataba de lanzar un proyecto que creía visionario, ahí ya había estado Mario; estaba en todos los proyectos que eran realmente innovadores porque tenía la vista puesta en el futuro y los pies en la tierra. Era un Humanista en todos los aspectos: impulsar la comunicación clara como un derecho era sobre todo preocuparse, por ejemplo, por las personas mayores, con nombres y apellidos. Él sabía que lo iban a tener muy difícil cuando a los mayores les quitaran los prospectos de los medicamentos, por eso él quería que la comunicación clara ayudase a revertir la situación.

Cuando los refugiados ucranianos llegaron a España el con su equipo puso en marcha un folleto explicativo con infografías para facilitarles el acceso a la salud pública. Cuando trabajaba con la Inteligencia Artificial, era sobre todo para ayudar a los humanos a descubrir su propia inteligencia. Y por supuesto, le apasionaban los libros, pero que todos pudieran tener acceso a ellos, y por eso impulsó su librería de intercambio en su tierra, en Ponferrada. Ha sido un humanista de ciencia y de letras, esforzándose por darle un nuevo sentido al lenguaje para que todos pudiéramos comprendernos mejor: desde las famosas multas “comprensibles” de Madrid, hasta la exposición de las noticias falsas. Mario era un discreto activista de la palabra que llegó más lejos que nadie.

Y en su homenaje, para ser claros, nada mejor que ser breve, y darle las gracias por abrirnos tantos caminos.
Si hay alguien a quien agradecerle el impulso de la comunicación clara, claro, es a Mario. Brindemos por él y su ejemplo.”

The PLAIN e-journal Vol5 No2 2023 is now available to read for members. We think this edition’s theme Collaboration: The Heart of Plain Language Advancement will complement nicely with the PLAIN conference currently underway.

Visit the PLAIN E-journal page to download your copy. Here’s what you can look forward to in this issue.

Collaboration in this field can come in many different forms: with users, with colleagues, with mentors, with international peers, even with technology. Each form of collaboration is valuable and contributes to the greater evolution of the plain language field. The writers of this issue offer their experience and advice for where and how to seek opportunities for collaboration in plain language. I hope the gathered wisdom here helps you in your current areas of teamwork or perhaps helps you prepare for future opportunities.

1. James Hanington offers insights on cultivating a culture where plain language is ingrained and welcomed from the onset.

2. From the Institute for Language and Folklore in Sweden:

• Ingrid Olsson and Gabriella Sandström introduce a mentor program that pairs new practitioners with seasoned experts, fostering growth on both ends.
• Karin Webjörn showcases how working with terminologists aids in achieving clearer language, referencing her work with the Sustainable Development Group.

3. Victor González-Ruiz shares his experiences and challenges in coordinating localization efforts among Spanish-speaking volunteers for the ISO standard.

4. On the research front:

• Michael A Blasie delves into the extensive array of plain language laws in the US.
• Salli Kankaanpää and Aino Piehl introduce a project examining plain language policies within the EU, emphasizing the potential for international collaboration.
• Mischa Corsius and Wouter Sluis-Thiescheffer present their innovative method of analyzing government documents in The Netherlands and Belgium.

5. In the realm of technology, Emily Halloran explores AI’s potential in enhancing plain language editing. AI, whether one agrees with it or not, is poised to redefine the future of writing.

6. Insights from the Plain Language Academies:

• Kate Harrison Whiteside and Sarah Slabbert reflect on the evolution and future trajectory of collaboration within the plain language discipline.

7. Lastly, Neil James updates readers on the International Plain Language Federation’s ongoing initiatives. While the launch of the first international plain language standard is a milestone, the journey continues with a focus on training, certification, and further collaboration.

 

Episode one of the PLAIN2023 podcast has dropped!

Lodewijk van Noort (“Ludo” in plain language) will keep you updated with developments and what to watch out for at PLAIN2023.

In episode 1, he talks with speakers and attendees about their experiences highlights the days insights and lessons learnt.

Today Ludo speaks with the organization team of the conference. They will tell us what to expect from the conference and you will get insider tips about the city of Buenos Aires.

The conference is a collaboration with the Observatorio de Lenguaje Claro (OBS) of the Law School at the National University at Buenos Aires.

And that is why we are very pleased to have two colleagues from the OBS as guests: Gisela Candarle and Lucas Koch. We also talk with two board members of Plain Language Association International (PLAIN): Natalia Torro and Irene Stotko.

Many thanks to Rafaela Gunner. She is our translator. You will hear her voice when a Spanish-speaking guest is speaking.

Visit the PLAIN2023 Podcast page here.

Interpreting is the process of orally translating a spoken or signed language into another language in real-time.

Interpreters bridge communication gaps between people who speak different languages, enabling them to understand and communicate with each other effectively. Just as plain language in monolingual contexts, translation and interpreting can create bridges to connect cultures!

We are thrilled to announce that PLAIN2023 sessions will be interpreted between English and Spanish. So go ahead and pick any session you are interested in, interpreters will be your bridge to clear communication.

Find out more about the conference website!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the official website for #PLAIN2023!

🔗  Vistit the PLAIN2023 Conference Website 🔗

Detailed Agenda: Stay updated with our planned sessions, workshops, and keynote speakers.
Speaker Profiles: Learn more about our esteemed line-up of industry experts and thought leaders from around the world.
FAQs & Guidelines: Everything you need to know to have a smooth experience.

 

Join us in shaping the narrative at PLAIN2023! 🌟

Don’t forget to follow our LinkedIn channels for real-time updates!

PLAIN has presented three awards that will be celebrated at the PLAIN2023 Conference in Argentina this September.We offer our congratulations and express our gratitude to the organizations and individuals recognized for the valuable and inspiring work we celebrate with these awards. And we thank all the candidates and nominating members for their continued contributions–which made the selection of these recipients that much harder!

We also want to thank our star volunteer that has helped the Board with the awards process: Jana Goldman.

We look forward to celebrating them all at our PLAIN2023 Conference this September in Buenos Aires!

Christine Mowat Plain Language Achievement Award