Collection of Italian Government recommendations, laws, and policies aiming at the simplification of bureaucratic language.

Transcript

1 Collection of Italian Government recommendations, laws, and policies aiming at the simplification of bureaucratic language. BEFORE 2000 Legge 7 agosto 1990, n. 241: right to access documents Simplification of bureaucratic language = underlying need PA activities transparency & efficacy Attempts from Government: 1993 Codice di stile delle comunicazioni scritte ad uso della pubblica amministrazione 1994 Semplificazione del linguaggio amministrativo 1997 Manuale di stile

2 Legge 7 giugno 2000, n Disciplina delle attività di Informazione e di Comunicazione delle Pubbliche Amministrazioni. Expected results transparency & effectiveness discipline information & communication activities Aims Illustrate activities & procedures of the institutions Promote access to public services through: simplification, modernization, knowledge (on activities and procedures) Criteria to re-organise the URP right to information, access & participation facilitate use of services offered to citizens Consequences Forthcoming regulation on staff recruitment criteria, training & refresher courses

3 Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica, 21 settembre 2001, n. 422 Regolamento recante norme per l individuazione dei titoli professionali del personale da utilizzare presso le pubbliche amministrazioni per le attività di informazione e di comunicazione e disciplina degli interventi formativi. Expected results Staff : recruited according to identified requisites specifically trained Aims Define: criteria for staff recruitment modalities for training activities Criteria Some content of training courses: communication and information instruments & techniques new technologies public relations techniques interpersonal communication Consequences within 24 months: PA must have exploited the training activities for in-service personnel

4 Direttiva del Ministro per la Funzione Pubblica, 7 Febbraio 2002 Attività di Comunicazione delle Pubbliche Amministrazioni Expected results simplification rules: official & spread quality of communication simple & comprehensible qualified & motivated personnel Aims exhaustive & transparent information advertise & access to services internal communication system efficiency & efficacy Criteria Language requirements: clearness, simplicity, conciseness completeness, accuracy by means of new ICT tools Consequences monitor application of law coherence with EU dimension consultancy & support system for re-editing of texts & acts Paola de Rosa - Perugia, 27 May 2010

5 Direttiva del Ministro per la Funzione pubblica, 8 maggio 2002 "Direttiva sulla semplificazione del linguaggio dei testi amministrativi" - 1 Expected result juridical & communicative efficiency Consequences documents & administrative acts re-edited online assistance Aims formalise rules edit administrative texts target-oriented transparent Basic Criteria clear content precise & simple target group less educated

6 Direttiva del Ministro per la Funzione pubblica, 8 maggio 2002 "Direttiva sulla semplificazione del linguaggio dei testi amministrativi" - 2 Text organisation sequence, directions, information: exhaustive, correct, essential coherence, layout Syntax short sentences YES: active & affirmative NO: passive & negative subjunctive Lexicon basic lexicon few technical terms (glossary) few acronyms & abbreviations avoid neologisms proofreading

7 Alfredo Fioritto, Manuale di stile dei documenti amministrativi, Il Mulino, 2009 WHY SIMPLIFICATION? Practical reason avoids waste of time/money Simplified not simplistic! Administrative style respect CLEARNESS, SIMPLICITY, EFFICACY. EFFICACY COMMUNICATIVE & LEGAL Juridical language performative modifies reality It must be RECOGNISED PEER RELATION as basis for communicative efficacy bidirectional, no hierarchy! (administrations / citizens)

8 Simplicity short sentences (max 25 words) one information per sentence main topic in first one prefer active phrases avoid negative prefer indicative avoid subjunctive Synopsis of identified criteria Correctness focus on main content basic lexicon reduce technicalities no metaphors spell out acronyms divide long sentences law references text layout (Capital & small letters, bold & italic) Alfredo Fioritto, Manuale di stile dei documenti amministrativi, Il Mulino, 2009 Guida alla scrittura dei testi Prampolini, Contessi, de Stefan0 in Fioritto 2009 Unity & Cohesion target oriented (help the reader) highlight important info (sender, addressee, context, object) show relation among sentences divide text (paragraphs, bullet points) 8