ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sandra Fisher-Martins - Translator, plain language activist
Sandra 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.

More profile about the speaker
Sandra Fisher-Martins | Speaker | TED.com
TEDxO'Porto

Sandra Fisher-Martins: The right to understand

Filmed:
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. (Filmed at TEDxO'Porto.)
- Translator, plain language activist
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故事 I want to tell you about, started开始 to me,
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我想和你们分享一个故事,
00:10
in 1996 when I was studying研究 in England英国.
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这要从我1996年在英国读书时开始说起。
00:14
One day, I was glancing一眼 through通过 my bank银行 statement声明
(I didn't have much to look at)
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有一天,当我正在浏览我的银行账单,
(当然,也没太多值得看的)
00:18
and I've noticed注意到 that in the upper corner there was
a symbol符号, that I'm going to show显示 you,
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我发现在账单上角有一个标识,
我正要给你们看看,
00:24
saying that document文件 had been made制作 in
plain language语言, for me to understand理解 it.
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上面说明这份结单是使用
平语书写的,以便于我更好理解。
00:28
The idea理念 interested有兴趣 me; I tried试着 to find out
what that was
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这个想法激起了我的兴趣;
于是我去了解了一下这方面的情况,
00:31
and I found发现 out that there was a campaign运动 for the
simplification简单化 of language语言,
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发现了一个关于
呼吁简化语言的运动,
00:35
which哪一个 was the "Plain English英语 Campaign运动".
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名字叫做“简明英语运动”。
00:37
I thought it was a fabulous极好 idea理念, for about
one day or two,
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我曾有那么一两天
痴迷于这种想法,
00:40
and I've never thought about it since以来.
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但之后就再也没想过了。
00:41
When I came来了 back to Portugal葡萄牙, for good,
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从那以后,我就回到
并一直呆在葡萄牙,
00:44
I came来了 across横过 with several一些 documents文件 - for example,
my work contract合同,
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我遇到过很多文件:
比如我的工作合同,
00:49
the papers文件 I had to sign标志 to buy购买 a house,
the electricity电力 bill法案 --
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房产证明,电费单……
00:54
a series系列 of documents文件 that reminded提醒 me of
that bank银行 statement声明.
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这一系列的文件都让我
回想起了当时的银行结单。
00:57
Not because they were equally一样 clear明确 and simple简单,
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不是因为它们同等的简洁明了,
01:01
but because they were the exact精确 opposite对面.
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而是因为情况与之恰恰相反。
01:03
Because I had to read everything twice两次 or thrice三次,
to begin开始 to understand理解 what was written书面 there.
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我必须要把每份文件读两到三遍,
才能明白它们到底写了什么。
01:08
And then, that little seed种子 that had been sown播种
in 1996, started开始 germinating萌动.
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之后,那个1996年就埋在
我心中的种子开始萌芽了。
01:15
And one day, I found发现 myself
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于是有一天,
01:17
entering进入 through通过 my boss'老板' office办公室 and quitting戒烟
my job工作 to dedicate奉献 myself to this.
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我走进了老板的办公室,
辞去了我的工作以全心投入这件事。
01:21
And so, what did I find out, right off the start开始?
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那么,我最先碰到了什么呢?
01:24
I found发现 out that it was a much more severe严重 problem问题
than I thought.
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我发现问题比我想象中的还要严重。
01:27
It wasn't only about these documents文件 being存在
complex复杂 and annoying恼人的,
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不仅仅是文件复杂和惹人生厌的问题,
01:32
it was the fact事实 that Portuguese葡萄牙语 people's人们 literacy读写能力 --
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事实上,葡萄牙民众的
读写能力是极其低下的。
01:35
literacy读写能力 is the habilityhability to understand理解 written书面 documents文件 --
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读写能力就是理解书面文件的能力
01:38
is extremely非常 low. I'm going to show显示 you a chart图表 about Portuguese葡萄牙语 people's人们 literacy读写能力 [rate].
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我要给你们展示一个
关于葡萄牙人民读写能力的调查表。
01:43
You know that about 10, 11% of people, in Portugal葡萄牙,
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我们能看出在葡萄牙有10~11%的人,
01:47
don't know how to read nor也不 write at all, yet然而.
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是完全没有能力阅读或书写的。
01:50
Over there are those who know, or say they know,
how to read and write. So, what do we have?
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还有些人是知道,或者说按照他们
自己的说法是知道如何读写的人。
01:54
We have that group of red people in level水平 1,
which哪一个 is the lowest最低 in literacy读写能力 [rate].
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所以,我们就有一批标红的等级1的人,
他们只有最低等级的读写能力。
01:59
They are persons who are able能够 to join加入 letters,
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他们有能力去组合字母,
02:02
but they can't, actually其实, understand理解.
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但他们其实无法真正理解。
02:05
For example, if a person, from that red group,
has to pick up
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举个例子,假如一个
属于红色区域的人,
02:09
the package leaflet传单 of a medicinal药用 product产品,
to give a dose剂量 of medicine医学 to his/her child儿童,
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需要拿一份药品说明书,
去给他/她的孩子开一副药,
02:14
he/she can't, can't understand理解 the information信息.
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他/她是没法理解说明书上的信息的。
02:16
50% of the Portuguese葡萄牙语. Then we have 30% more,
those yellow黄色 ones那些,
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这就有50%的葡萄牙人了。
那些处在黄色区域的,
有超过30%的人,
02:22
over there, people who get by
on the daily日常 basis基础.
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他们只能理解基本日常用语。
02:26
That is, if they don't have to read anything too new
or too different不同, they will manage管理.
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也就是说,如果不是太新潮或是
困难的用语,他们是能够看懂的。
02:30
But, for example, if they work in a factory and
a new machine arrives到达
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但是,举个例子,如果他们
在工厂工作,来了一台新机器,
02:33
and they have to read the machine's manual手册
to be able能够 to work with it, they can't do it anymore.
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他们必须要阅读机器的使用说明
才能操作它,但是他们读不懂。
02:38
And there they go, 80% of the Portuguese葡萄牙语 people.
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所有这些人,
占据了80%的葡萄牙人口。
02:43
Then we have a few少数 more that can handle处理 documents文件,
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我们还有一些能够看懂文件的人,
02:45
as long as they are not too complex复杂,
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只要不是太复杂的那种。
02:47
and we have 5% of the population人口 that
can handle处理 really complex复杂 documents文件.
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而只有5%的人口,是可以
理解很复杂的文件的。
02:52
Now, just so you don't think this is normal正常,
that over there is Sweden瑞典.
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你一定认为这不正常,
这是瑞典的情况。
02:57
While we have 20% of people with the literacy读写能力
considered考虑 essential必要 for a daily日常 basis基础,
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当我们只有20%的人有
核心日常用语的读写能力时,
03:02
Sweden瑞典 has 75%.
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瑞典有75%的人有。
03:06
And looking at that, what did I realize实现?
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通过看这些数据,我明白了什么?
03:08
I realized实现 we live生活 in an apartheid种族隔离 of information信息.
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我意识到我们正生活在
一个信息隔离的环境中。
03:11
I realized实现 that there's a small minority少数民族 of people
who has indeed确实 access访问 to information信息
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我意识到只有一小部分人能够真正
03:17
and can use it to their advantage优点 and
a huge巨大 majority多数 that can't.
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接触信息并为己所用,
而大部分人却做不到。
03:23
And because they can't, they are excluded排除
and they are impaired受损.
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正因为他们接触不到,所以他们
是被排除在外的,他们是受损的。
03:26
Let me give you an example.
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让我给你们举个例子。
03:28
That one is Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯, my building's建筑的 doorkeeper门房. Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯 started开始 to read at the age年龄 of 27,
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这位是多明戈斯先生,
是我家大楼的看门人。
多明戈斯先生从27岁开始阅读,
03:34
so, he falls下降 in that yellow黄色 group that
we have seen看到 a little while ago.
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所以,他属于我们之前
看过的黄色部分的群体。
03:37
From time to time, I'm arriving到达 home and he says:
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有些时候,当我回到家,他就会说:
03:39
"Miss小姐 Sandra桑德拉!"; "Yes, Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯."
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“桑德拉女士好!”
“你好,多明戈斯先生!”
03:41
"Here is a little letter." So, the deal合同 is: when Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯 or someone有人 in the family家庭 or in the neighbourhood邻里
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“这有一封简短的信。”具体来说就是:
当多明戈斯先生,或是家里人,邻居
03:45
receives收到 something that they don't understand理解,
they come to me and I help them to translate翻译 it.
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收到了一些他们看不懂的东西,
他们就会找到我,让我帮他们翻译。
03:49
And so, that time he said to me like this:
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一如往常,那次他和我这样说:
03:51
"Oh, Miss小姐 Sandra桑德拉, I'm about to throw this away,
but check it if this is important重要."
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“喔,桑德拉小姐,我正准备
把它扔掉,帮我看看重不重要吧。”
03:54
It was very important重要. He had been waiting等候,
for quite相当 a while, to have a knee膝盖 surgery手术
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那个文件很重要。
他已经等那个膝盖手术很久了,
03:59
and that was the letter of the famous著名 surgery-bank手术银行
checks检查. When a person is waiting等候 for a long time,
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那是一封来自著名外科银行的支票信件。
04:03
they get a bank银行 check and with that bank银行 check
they can have that surgery手术 in the private私人的 sector扇形.
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当一个人久病未治,他们就会得到支票
以支援他们在私营部门做手术。
04:07
It was almost几乎 thrown抛出 away into the garbage垃圾,
Mr先生. Domingos'多明戈斯 letter.
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多明戈斯先生的那封信,
差点儿就被丢进了垃圾箱。
04:10
In that same相同 year, I've found发现 out,
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就在那年,我还发现了,
04:12
only 20% of people had used these
surgery-bank手术银行 checks检查.
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只有20%的人是真正使用
那些外科银行的支票的。
04:16
The other 80%, I don't believe they had been cured治愈
while they were waiting等候.
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另外的80%的人,我不相信他们
是在等待的过程中就被治愈了。
04:22
They most likely容易 did the same相同 as Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯:
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最可能的情况是他们
和多明戈斯先生一样:
04:25
"Ah! What's this? I'm not understanding理解,
it's going to the garbage垃圾".
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“啊!这是什么?我不懂啊,
算了,扔掉吧。”
04:27
They lost丢失 the opportunity机会 to have the surgery手术
they needed需要.
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他们就这样丢掉了做手术的机会。
04:30
What happens发生 here? When people don't understand理解
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这代表这什么呢?
当人们不理解文字的时候,
04:34
this has severe严重 consequences后果 -- to the individual个人,
but also for the country国家.
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会造成严重的后果——
对于个人和国家来说都是这样。
04:38
When I don't understand理解 which哪一个 are my rights权利,
the benefits好处 I can have access访问 to,
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当我不懂得我的权利,
我能获得的好处时,
04:41
I can't understand理解 my duties职责 and I'm not
an active活性 and participative参与 citizen公民 either.
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我同样无法理解我的义务,
也就无法成为积极参与社会活动的公民。
04:46
Now, maybe, you are sitting坐在 there and thinking思维:
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也许现在,你正坐在这里想着:
04:50
"Yeah, poor较差的 Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯... Bad luck运气, isn't it?
Me?! I'm in the green绿色 ones那些."
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“啊,可怜的多明戈斯先生……运气太背了,
不是吗?我?我属于绿色的人群。”
04:54
"I'm absolutely绝对 sure that I'm one of the green绿色 ones那些.
I was selected to come to TEDTED! Hum?" (Laughter笑声)
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“我很肯定我属于绿色人群。
我都被选来TED现场了不是吗?”(笑声)
04:58
So the deal合同 is: I have here some texts文本 to read to you
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现在,我要给你们念一段内容,
05:02
and I'm going to see what color颜色 are you
when I finish reading.
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当我读完的时候,你们
就知道你们属于哪群人了。
05:06
So, come on, this is an automobile汽车 insurance保险
contract合同. It says this:
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所以,来吧,这是一份
汽车保险合同。上面写着:
05:10
"Unless除非 contrary相反 stipulation规定, the decease死亡 of the ensured确保 person, the ensured确保 capital首都 is provided提供,
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“除合同条款例外,当被保人死亡,
05:16
in case案件 of predeceasingpredeceasing of the beneficiary受益人 relatively相对 to the ensured确保 person, to the heirs继承人 of the last,
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且法定受益人先于被保人死亡的情况,
保险金由被保人继承人继承;
05:22
in case案件 of the simultaneous同时 decease死亡 of the ensured确保 person and of the beneficiary受益人,
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或法定受益人与被保人同时死亡的情况,
05:26
to the heirs继承人 of the last". Hum? (Laughter笑声)
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保险金将由法定受益人继承人继承。”
怎么样?(笑声)
05:28
Next下一个, there's another另一个 one, from the medicines'药品
package leaflet传单, that says the following以下:
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下一个,我们来看另一个,
来自一份医药说明,上面写着:
05:33
"Warning警告! It may可能 also occur发生 erythema红斑, edema浮肿,
vesiculation水疱, keratolysis松解症 and urticaria荨麻疹."
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“警告!有可能导致红斑,水肿,
囊泡,角质疣,荨麻疹。”
05:40
Hum? Are you clear明确?
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怎么样?你懂了吗?
05:44
And this one is really good. This one, I signed
a renting租房 contract合同 to the new office办公室 on Friday星期五
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这个才是最棒的。这是我
在周五签署的新办公室租令合同
05:47
and I laughed笑了 my head off.
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它太搞笑了。
05:48
So, it said: "I, as a cosigner担保人, assume承担 the opportune适当的
payment付款 of the rents租金,
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上面写着:“我,身为联署人,
保证及时支付租金,
05:54
waiving减免 the benefits好处 of the division
and prior foreclosure丧失抵押品赎回权."
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放弃丧失抵押品赎回权
划分之前的好处。”
05:58
When I heard听说 "opportune适当的 payment付款" ["storm风暴 payment付款"
in Portuguese葡萄牙语], I imagined想象 myself bursting爆破 in there,
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当我听到“及时支付”我想象自己冲进去,
[译注:葡萄牙语里面是“闪电支付”]
06:01
slamming猛击 the door and saying: "Here's这里的 the money!!!"
(Laughter笑声)
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砰地关上门,说:“这是我的租金!!!”
(笑声)
06:05
But it's not! (Laughter笑声) (Applause掌声)
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但不是这样的!(笑声)(掌声)
06:06
But it's not! (Applause掌声)
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但不是这样的!(掌声)
06:07
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
06:09
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
06:11
So, it's this: when we leave离开 our area of expertise专门知识 --
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所以,当我们走出我们的专业领域——
06:15
and it only takes a little; there is no need to go
to the string theory理论 or something like that,
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一点点,没必要谈到弦理论那种程度,
[译注:弦理论是种物理理论]
06:19
it only takes a little... (Laughter笑声)
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只需要超纲一点点……
(笑声)
06:21
What happens发生?
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会发生什么呢?
06:22
We get as lost丢失 as Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯.
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我们就会和多明戈斯先生一样不知所措。
06:26
And these documents文件 are not written书面
by experts专家 to experts专家,
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而且这些文件并非专家写给专家的,
06:30
as the ones那些 from the string theory理论.
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不是弦理论那种。
06:32
No! These are documents文件 written书面 for me,
these are the public上市 documents文件,
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不!这些文件是写给我的,
这些都是公众文件,
06:35
the public上市 documents文件 I need to understand理解
in my daily日常 life,
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这些我需要在日常生活中
理解的公众文件,
06:39
to govern治理 myself, to live生活 my life.
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以此掌握自己和生活。
06:41
These are the renting租房 contracts合同, the package leaflet传单
of the medicines药品.
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这些文件包括租赁合同,药品说明。
06:43
It's all this. The electricity电力 bills票据.
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都是这类的,还有电费单。
06:47
This has to be clear明确, so that I can understand理解.
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这些都需要很清晰,
这样我才能看懂。
06:48
Because, if I can't understand理解, what happens发生?
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因为,如果我看不懂,
会发生什么呢?
06:51
I make mistakes错误, I get wrong错误.
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我会犯错,我会做出错误的理解。
06:54
I'm going to give you an example of mistakes错误 that
were committed提交, bad decisions决定 made制作
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我来给你们举个犯错的例子,
因为看不懂文件,
06:58
for not being存在 able能够 to understand理解 documents文件.
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从而作出了糟糕的决定。
07:00
Do you remember记得 the subprime次贷 crisis危机 that
took place地点 in the United联合的 States状态?
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你们还记得发生在美国
的那次次贷危机吗?
07:04
What happened发生?
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发生了什么呢?
07:06
People signed those loans贷款 to buy购买 houses房屋,
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人们签署贷款买房子,
07:09
without truly understanding理解 what they were signing签约.
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却并不知道他们签署的是什么。
07:12
Because if they knew知道 what they were signing签约,
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因为如果他们知道
他们签署的内容的话,
07:14
they'd他们会 know that as soon不久 as the interest利益 rate started开始
to rise上升, the monthly每月一次 payment付款 would also increase增加,
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他们就应该明白当利息上涨时,
他们每月的还款量也会增加,
07:20
they wouldn't不会 be able能够 to pay工资 anymore and
they would end结束 up without a house.
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那时候他们就没有能力偿还了,
最后就会失去他们的房子。
07:23
So, the rest休息, after that, next下一个, everything
crumbled崩溃 down and we know the rest休息.
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在那之后,一切就完了,
我们知道这种后果的。
07:27
Do you think that if there was a culture文化 of clarity明晰
in the financial金融 sector扇形
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你认为如果我们在金融领域
一向有着清晰表达的传统的话,
07:32
things would have got up to where they've他们已经 got?
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事情还会变成这样吗?
07:35
I don't think so. So,
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我认为不会。
所以我们应该如何解决这个问题,
07:38
how do you solve解决 this problem问题,
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07:41
this such这样 big difference区别 between之间 the
literacy读写能力 [rate] of the Portuguese葡萄牙语,
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如何解决存在于葡萄牙人
实际读写能力
07:45
that is down here, and the complexity复杂
of the public上市 documents文件,
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这么低,和那些日常须知的
公共文件的复杂度,
07:48
those ones那些 we need to understand理解
in our daily日常 lives生活, sorry,
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那么高,之间的
07:51
that are up here?
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巨大差距?
07:53
So, the first think that comes to mind心神 is,
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所以,最先进入脑海的想法应该是:
07:55
"If literacy读写能力 is down here, let's make it rise上升" -- isn't it?
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如果读写率这么低,让我们来提升一下。
07:59
Let's educate教育 people.
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是吗?让我们来教育人群。
08:00
Let's, let's... of course课程 we will,
of course课程 we will educate教育 people.
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让我们……当然,我们会教育大众的。
08:04
The thing is, it's hard and it's slow.
And I don't even want to imagine想像
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问题是这很难,而且速度很慢。
我都不愿去想象
08:08
how many许多 generations it will take until直到 we are
at Sweden's瑞典 level水平.
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需要多少代人才能使
我们达到瑞典的水平。
08:12
But, besides除了 that, it's not only because it is slow.
There is another另一个 problem问题.
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但除此之外,不仅是慢的问题。
其实还有另一个问题。
08:14
If the language语言 of the documents文件
isn't simpler简单,
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如果文件用语无法简明化,
08:18
we've我们已经 already已经 seen看到 that people, even with
a high literacy读写能力 level水平, like you,
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我们已经见证了和你们一样
具有高读写能力的人们,
08:23
if the language语言 is hard, they don't get cleared清除,
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在复杂语言环境下,
他们仍然会搞不清,
08:26
they continue继续 to be unable无法 to understand理解
these documents文件.
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他们依旧无法理解这些文件。
08:29
So, besides除了 increasing增加 literacy读写能力 [rate], and for now,
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所以,现在,除了需要提高读写率以外,
08:33
it's much more important重要 to reduce减少
the complexity复杂 of documents文件
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更重要的是去降低文件的复杂程度,
08:37
and simplify简化 the language语言.
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去简化语言。
08:42
I'm going to show显示 you an example.
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我给你们一个例子。
08:44
When I talk about simplifying简化 the language语言.
Notice注意!
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当我谈论到简化语言。
注意!
08:46
On the left side of a contract合同:
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在合约的左侧:
08:50
"It is agreed同意 that the insurance保险 company公司, blaBLA blaBLA blaBLA,
blaBLA blaBLA blaBLA, blaBLA blaBLA..."
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“一致认同的是保险公司,等等,……”
08:53
This is a before and after example. What do we mean with simplifying简化 language语言?
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这是一个简化前后的对比例子。
简化语言是什么意思呢?
08:58
It's communicating通信 in a simple简单 and clear明确 way,
enabling启用 our reader读者 to understand理解 it at first glance一瞥.
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是以一种更加简洁清晰的方式去表达,
以便于读者更好而直观的理解内容。
09:06
What do you prefer比较喜欢? Before or after?
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你更偏向哪一种?
之前的还是之后的?
09:10
There isn't much doubt怀疑, is there?
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这个问题的答案毫无争议,不是吗?
09:12
So, how is this achieved实现? How can you make
the State and companies公司 communicate通信
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所以我们应该如何实现这呢?
我们怎样才能让国家和公司
09:18
with citizens公民 in a language语言 they can understand理解
at first glance一瞥?
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以一种众人皆知的语言去交流?
09:21
There are several一些 ways方法. There are countries国家
that are going by the path路径 of legislation立法.
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有几种办法。
有些国家采取了立法途径。
09:25
For example, Sweden瑞典 and the United联合的 States状态
introduced介绍, last year, a legislation立法 that forces军队
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举个例子,瑞典和美国在去年,
通过了法案,强制国家
09:31
the State to communicate通信 with people in
a language语言 they can understand理解.
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以民众能够理解的语言去沟通。
09:34
And you think, "Well, that's normal正常.
They are countries国家 that are a bit ahead.
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然后你就想,“好吧,那很正常。
毕竟它们是稍微领先的国家。
09:37
"Sweden瑞典, maybe, much more than the United联合的 States状态.
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瑞典,也许比美国更先进。
09:40
"But they are countries国家 that are a bit ahead.
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但总而言之,它们都是稍微领先的国家。
09:41
"It would be nice不错 if in our country国家 there was also
legislation立法 towards that, wouldn't不会 it be?"
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要是在我们的国家
也有相关立法该多好啊!”
09:45
So it would. And there is! Since以来 1999.
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所以真的变成现实了。
自从1999年,
09:49
The Law of the Administrative行政的 Modernization现代化
says that
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现代化行政部门的法令要求
09:52
the communication通讯 between之间 the State and the people
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国家与人民之间应该使用更加
09:55
should be simple简单, clear明确, concise简洁, meaningful富有意义的,
without acronyms缩略词, blaBLA blaBLA blaBLA...
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简洁,清晰,表意明确的语言交流,
不使用首字母缩写词等等。
10:00
But the thing is: it is not applied应用的. So, the question,
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但事实上,这些法令并没有得到应用。
所以,现在的问题是
10:02
the path路径 of going through通过 legislation立法,
enforcing强制执行 through通过 legislation立法,
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通过法律途径,
通过立法加强,
10:05
works作品 in those countries国家 where laws法律
are made制作 to be applied应用的.
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只在那些制定法律是为了
实施的国家起作用。
10:09
Now, there is another另一个 way, the way of marketing营销.
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好吧,还有另一种,通过营销途径。
10:14
How does that work? It's like this:
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这又是如何起效的呢?是这样的:
10:17
private私人的 companies公司 change更改 their language语言;
communicate通信 in a clearer更清晰 and simpler简单 way,
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私企改变他们的语言;
使用更加简明的方式书写,
10:21
they make a big fuss小题大作 about it, consumers消费者 love it,
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他们对此大做文章,
而消费者喜欢这些,
10:24
the sales销售 rise上升, it works作品 beautifully精美.
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销量上涨了,效果很好。
10:26
But it works作品 for the private私人的 sector扇形.
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但这只对私人部门企业有作用。
10:28
Now, what is the third第三 path路径, and to me,
the most important重要 one?
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现在,第三种道路,也是我本人
最重视的途径是什么的?
10:34
It's the path路径 of civil国内 movements运动,
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是基于心理变化上的
10:36
that are based基于 in a mentality心理 shift转移.
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市民运动方式。
10:38
In countries国家 where this really went forward前锋 --
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在那些实施这些运动的国家——
10:41
do you remember记得 the English英语 label标签, of the
"Plain English英语 Campaign运动"? --
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你还记得我提的那个英语标签,
“简明英语运动”——
10:43
this is all based基于 on a consumers'消费者 movement运动.
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这些都是基于消费者的运动的。
10:46
So, what does it take for that civic公民 movement运动
to happen发生?
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所以,怎样才能促使市民运动发生呢?
10:51
We need to understand理解 two very important重要 things:
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我们需要理解很重要的两点:
10:54
First, wanting希望 to understand理解 these
public上市 documents文件 is not a whim怪念头,
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其一,要知道这些公共文件并非一时兴起,
10:59
is not an intellectual知识分子 curiosity好奇心.
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不是好奇心需求。
11:01
It is a necessity必要性 that I have in my daily日常 life.
185
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它们在我们日常生活中是必要的。
11:03
And above以上 all, it is a right, it is everyone's大家的 right.
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最重要的一点,这是一种权利,
是我们每个人的权利。
11:07
On this side we have: understanding理解 is a right.
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在这里,我们要明白:
理解是一种权利。
11:10
And we have to understand理解 another另一个 thing too,
188
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我们以必须认识到另一点,
11:12
which哪一个 is: he who writes, has to write in order订购
to be understood了解.
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那就是:那个写作的人,
必须以被理解为目的进行写作。
11:15
How do we get there?
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我们要如何实现呢?
11:18
First of all: we have to become成为 demanding严格
consumers消费者 and citizens公民.
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首先:我们自己必须做
高要求的消费者和公民。
11:22
Think it this way: next下一个 time someone有人
gives you a document文件
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这样说吧:下次当有人给你一份
11:27
that you just simply只是 don't understand理解, don't be shy害羞,
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你看不懂的文件时,不要感到害羞,
11:30
don't keep quiet安静, pretending假装 that you are
understanding理解 everything.
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不要保持沉默,或假装你能够看得懂。
11:33
No! Demand需求 to understand理解. Ask.
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不要!你需要知道。去提问吧。
11:35
I know that this is not easy简单. Turn to the gentleman绅士
in the little suite套房 and say:
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我知道这并不容易。
转身朝向房间里的绅士,询问:
11:39
"Look here, this contract合同, this part部分,
what does this mean?"
197
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“看一下这份合约的这个部分,是什么意思?”
11:42
It's not easy简单, and perhaps也许 it's even a bit
embarrassing尴尬, isn't it?
198
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这并不容易,也许还会
有一点儿尴尬,是吗?
11:46
But it is not. It's a sign标志 of intelligence情报.
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不,不是这样的。这是聪明的表现。
11:48
What do you teach your children孩子 when
they have doubts疑惑 in school学校?
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当你们的孩子们在学校产生疑问时,
你们是如何教导他们的?
11:51
"Don't say nothing to anyone任何人, shut关闭 up really good
and act法案 smart聪明."
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“别告诉任何人,保持沉默并假装聪明。”
11:55
No, you don't, right? You say:
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不,你不会这么说,对吧?你会说:
11:57
"Look, when you don't understand理解, you put your hand
up in the air空气 and ask the teacher老师 until直到 you are cleared清除."
203
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“恩,当你有不懂的地方的时候,高举你的手,
问老师问题,直到弄清楚为止。”
12:01
And that is exactly究竟 what we have to do,
as consumers消费者 and citizens公民.
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作为消费者和社会公民,我们也该这么做。
12:05
So, next下一个 time you come across横过 with
a document文件 you don't understand理解,
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所以,当你下次遇到看不懂的文件,
12:09
demand需求 to understand理解, put aside在旁边 your pride自豪 and ask
206
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2806
要求去弄懂,放下你的傲气,
12:12
until直到 you get completely全然 cleared清除.
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询问直到你完全弄懂。
12:14
Then, there's the other side, which哪一个 is:
"Okay, these awful可怕 documents文件
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然后,就另一个问题,我会说:
“好吧,这些糟糕的文件,
12:20
"which哪一个 are in circulation循环, they don't grow增长 on trees树木.
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是在流通当中的,它们不是长在树上的。
12:22
"Someone有人 wrote them." Hum?
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某些人撰写了它们。”是吧?
12:24
Maybe, among其中 this big group, some persons...
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也许,在这些大群体当中,一部分人……
12:28
I don't know, some lawyers律师, some public上市 employees雇员 --
I'm not asking you to identify鉴定 yourselves你自己,
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我也不清楚,一些律师,一些公职人员——
我不是在要求你们去指认自己,
12:33
but I ask you to search搜索 your own拥有 conscience良心.
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我是在要求你们寻找自己的良知。
12:36
How many许多 times do you write documents文件
for the general一般 public上市,
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你们曾为大众撰写过多少文件,
12:39
for people that don't share分享 your language语言,
215
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曾使用你的语言,为那些
12:42
and you write them in a language语言 that
only you will understand理解?
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与你语种相异的人们写过多少文件?
12:44
And you'll你会 say: "Ah, that's because
there is a reason原因, here!"
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3025
然后你们会说:“额,那是有原因的,这儿!”
12:47
Dear friends朋友, I already已经 heard听说 all the reasons原因.
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1592
亲爱的朋友们,各种理由我都听说过了。
12:49
There are thousands数千 of reasons原因. They go like these:
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2765
有上千种理由,像是:
12:52
"Ah, it's the house's房屋 culture文化"; "Oh, my boss老板!"
220
765178
1974
“这是地方文化。”
“哦,我的老板规定这样的!”
12:54
"Oh, the judge法官! And what if this goes to court法庭?"
221
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“是为了法官,如果说这些
需要用于法庭裁决呢?”
12:56
"What you want is to destroy破坏 language语言.
We have to educate教育 people."
222
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2581
“你这是在摧毁语言,我们需要教育人们。”
12:59
"We can't lower降低 the level水平"; blaBLA, blaBLA, blaBLA...
223
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1975
“我们不能降低水准”等等。
13:01
I've seen看到 all of this. These are excuses借口.
224
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这些我都见识过,这些都是借口。
13:03
A while ago, they told us about Einstein爱因斯坦.
225
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2571
不久之前,他们和我们讲了
关于爱因斯坦的故事。
13:06
Einstein爱因斯坦 said this: "If you can't write about a subject学科,
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爱因斯坦说:“如果你无法用
一种简洁的语言描述一种事物,
13:10
in a simple简单 way, it's because, in fact事实,
you don't understand理解 it."
227
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那是因为,事实上你并不理解它。”
13:13
So, if you... (Applause掌声)
228
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3544
所以说,假如你……(掌声)
13:16
To Einstein爱因斯坦... (Applause掌声)
229
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1910
对于爱因斯坦……(掌声)
13:18
To Einstein爱因斯坦...(Applause掌声)
230
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对爱因斯坦……(掌声)
13:20
So -- ah, ah, I don't have time! --
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额,我没有足够的时间了!
13:22
so, if you do know what you want to say --
don't you? --
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所以说,如果你知道你想说什么
——你们知道的吧?
13:27
you are aware知道的 of what you want to say,
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——如果你们明白想表达的内容的话,
13:29
you just have to do one thing: believe that it is
possible可能 to write in a simple简单 way.
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你们只需要做一件事:
相信简洁的表达是完全可能的。
13:34
And how do you do that?
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你们该如何做呢?
13:36
It's very easy简单. You write to your grandmother祖母.
Hum?
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这很简单。就当写给你们的祖母,怎样?
13:40
You write to your grandmother祖母. I'm going
to show显示 grandma奶奶 to you.
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写给你们的奶奶。
我给你们看一下奶奶。
13:41
(Laughter笑声)
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(笑声)
13:44
You write with respect尊重 and without paternalism家长作风.
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你们要使用尊重的语言,
脱去家长作风。
13:45
And you use three techniques技术 that I'm going
to teach you. First of all:
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我将教给你们三种技巧。首先:
13:49
Start开始 by the most important重要.
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把最重要的写在最前头。
13:51
Grandma奶奶 has a lot to do. She is not going to read
three pages网页 to get to the main主要 idea理念.
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奶奶很忙碌的。她不会打算
从三页纸当中找寻中心思想的。
13:55
Start开始 by the most important重要.
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把最重要的写在最前头。
13:57
Next下一个, use short sentences句子, because grandma奶奶,
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接下来,使用简短的句子,
因为奶奶,
14:01
like anyone任何人 of us,
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就像我们每个人一样,
14:02
if you make very long sentences句子,
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如果你使用过长的句子,
14:04
she gets得到 to the end结束 and she can't remember记得 what
you said in the beginning开始, anymore.
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当她读完句子的时候,
她就会记不得句子开头的部分。
14:06
And lastly最后, the third第三, use plain words, those ones那些
that grandma奶奶 knows知道.
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最后,第三点,使用平语,
使用奶奶知道的那些词汇。
14:11
Alright好的? It's easy简单!
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好吗?很简单的!
14:13
Before I leave离开,
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在我离开之前,
14:15
I would like to talk to you about "Clara克拉拉" (Clear明确).
"Clara克拉拉" is a project项目 of social社会 responsibility责任.
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我想和你们谈谈“Clara”(葡萄牙语)
“Clara”是一个关于社会责任的项目。
14:18
It has this mission任务: to change更改 the way how public上市 communication通讯 is made制作.
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它有一个任务:去改变大众交流的方式。
14:22
What do we do?
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我们应该怎么做呢?
14:23
We are going to launch发射 this year
a collection采集 of "Claro克拉罗" guides导游,
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我们即将发行本年度的“Claro”指南,
14:27
that is, we are going to pick very, very,
very complex复杂 subjects主题 and put them simple简单.
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其中,我们选取了非常,非常复杂的
那些内容,然后使用简洁的方式表达它们。
14:31
We are going to start开始 with the
"Claro克拉罗" Guide指南 of Justice正义.
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我们就那“Claro”《法律指南》开始说吧。
14:33
I think it is an area... that comes in handy便利.
(Applause掌声)
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我想这个领域,应该是手到擒来吧。
(掌声)
14:37
And now I'm going to follow跟随 Manuel曼努埃尔 [ForjazForjaz]'s advise劝告.
If it's time to ask,
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我正要跟从曼纽尔先生的建议。
现在是时候询问了,
14:39
whoever wants to sponsor赞助 the
"Claro克拉罗" Guide指南 of Justice正义 -- I don't know...
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如果有谁想要赞助“Claro”《法律指南》
——我不知道,
14:42
for example, the EDPEDP Foundation基础, or...ha? --
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举个例子,EDP基金会,或者,嗯……
14:45
come talk to me later后来.
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可以等会儿来和我谈谈。
14:48
Another另一个 thing we will do is to grant发放 prizes奖品
to the worse更差 and best最好 documents文件,
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我们做的另一件事,就是
给最好和最糟糕的文件颁奖,
14:53
because, indeed确实, there are people who are working加工
to communicate通信 in a clearer更清晰 way,
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因为,事实上,有不少人正为
语言的简洁化目标奋斗着,
14:56
and that have to be rewarded奖励,
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他们需要被嘉奖,
14:57
and there are lazy people that do nothing
about it and need to be humiliated羞辱.
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而那些对此熟视无睹的懒人们,
他们需要被羞辱。
15:01
So, we'll give prizes奖品 to the worst最差 and to the best最好.
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所以我们要为最好和最坏的颁奖。
15:03
I'm counting数数 on your help. (Applause掌声)
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我正指望着你们的帮助。(谢谢)
15:05
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
15:10
We are going to launch发射... we are going to launch发射
the campaign运动 via通过 Clara's克拉拉 FacebookFacebook的,
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我们将会,将会通过Clara
的Facebook发布一项运动
15:14
so, send发送 your friendship友谊 request请求 and
you'll你会 be up to date日期.
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所以,申请添加好友,你将获得最新资讯。
15:17
But, lastly最后, above以上 all, what does "Clara克拉拉" want?
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但是,最重要的,
“Clara”的目标究竟是什么?
15:19
It wants to put two little things in your heads.
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它希望能够在你们的头脑里植入两个观点。
15:21
The first one: demand需求 to understand理解. Don't be shy害羞.
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第一:要去理解,不要害羞。
15:25
And write in order订购 to be understood了解.
Write to your grandma奶奶.
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还有就是以理解为目的的去写作,
就当是为你们的奶奶写作。
15:29
And if you don't have a grandmother祖母, write to
Mr先生. Domingos多明戈斯, he will like it.
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如果你们没有奶奶,就当是为了
多明戈斯先生吧,他会喜欢的。
15:33
Thank you. (Applause掌声)
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谢谢。(掌声)
Translated by Junyi Sha
Reviewed by Hime IX

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sandra Fisher-Martins - Translator, plain language activist
Sandra 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.

More profile about the speaker
Sandra Fisher-Martins | Speaker | TED.com