The Social Justice Impact Of Plain Language: A Critical Approach To Plain-Language Analysis

Keywords

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs); African Americans; critical discourse analysis (CDA); home mortgage documents; human-centered design; plain language; social justice

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates how plain language, examined from a social justice perspective, is implemented in mortgage documents and what the implications are for African-American homebuyers. About the case: We argue that plain language has the potential to engage issues of human dignity and human rights because language accessibility in documents plays a large role in how citizens engage in civic and social activities. In regard to the home ownership process, in which African-American homebuyers are more likely to experience discrimination, we need a study of the implementation of plain language in documents that might contribute to communication breakdowns between the banking industry and this historically marginalized group. Situating the case: We examine plain language from a social-justice stance by turning a more critical eye toward how and why plain-language guidelines are implemented. Methods/approach: Our study focused on the initial disclosure statements for adjustable-rate mortgages. We paired critical discourse analysis with the Securities and Exchange Commission's Plain English Handbook guidelines for disclosure statements to analyze three disclosure statements. Results/discussion: We found that, generally speaking, each of the three disclosure statements effectively adhered to plain-language recommendations. However, the idea that plain language increases accessibility, reader comprehension, and usability is complicated, and the accessibility and usability of each document varied. Conclusions: We advocate for a human-centered approach that explores ways that plain-language guidelines can be applied along with a critical focus on amplifying agency and reducing inequity.

Publication Date

12-1-2017

Publication Title

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

Volume

60

Issue

4

Number of Pages

412-429

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2017.2762964

Socpus ID

85034265695 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85034265695

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