Readability and the Language of Criminal Indictments: A Case Study

摘要

Anyone who has taught a technical or business writing course in the last ten years can attest to the currency of the concept of readability. The Winter 1984 issue of Teaching English in the Two Year College was a special issue on readability; that same year Technical Communication also produced a special readability issue, and the subject has continued to occupy practitioners and theorists alike. A few headlines chosen at random from Simply Stated, the monthly newsletter of the Document Design Center, show the public concern with plain language and readability: "British consider a plain language law," "Gas Association promotes plain English," "Plain English by the billabong," "Lawyers get new guide on Plain English style."