Barroso defends the use of simple language in the Judiciary

The president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), minister Luís Roberto Barroso, defended the Judiciary’s adherence to the National Judiciary Pact for Simple Language. The initiative provides for the use of direct and understandable language in the production of judicial decisions and in the general communication of Justice. On Tuesday night (5), the Chamber of Deputies approved a project similar to the initiative defended by Barroso. The proposal determines the use of simple language in communication by public bodies.

“Too often, we are not understood. Much of the criticism of the Judiciary stems from a lack of understanding about what we are deciding. Coded language, hermetic and inaccessible language, ends up being an instrument of power, an instrument of exclusion of people who do not have that knowledge and, therefore, cannot participate in the debate”, said Barroso this Monday (4).

The minister spoke during the opening ceremony of the 17th National Meeting of the Judiciary, promoted by the National Council of Justice (CNJ), chaired by him, in partnership with the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJBA). The minister pointed out that the challenge of the initiative will be to combine good legal technique with the adoption of brief language in communication.

The initiative also establishes the improvement of forms of inclusion, such as the use of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), audio description, among others. The CNJ created the “Simple Language Seal” to encourage courts to use direct and understandable language. The recognition will be granted annually on October 13th, when International Simple Language Day is celebrated.

Chamber project establishes national plain language policy

The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill that establishes a national plain language policy. PL 6,256/2019 determines procedures to be adopted by public administration bodies and entities in their communications with the population. The text was approved by 240 votes in favor and 180 against. The matter will be sent to the Senate for analysis.

The proposal, authored by deputy Erika Kokay (PT-DF), was approved in the form of a substitute for deputy Pedro Campos (PSB-PE). According to the text, public bodies of all federative entities must define, within 90 days after the publication of the future law, a person responsible for processing information in simple language, informed the Chamber Agency.

This professional will be responsible for training agency communicators on simple language techniques and supervising the application of the standard. If approved, municipalities with less than 50,000 inhabitants will not need to follow the new rule if this implies an increase in expenses.

Plenary approved amendment against use of neutral language

The plenary approved an amendment presented by deputy Junio ​​Amaral (PL-SP) that prohibits the use of new forms of gender and number flexion of words in the Portuguese language, such as “todes”, used in neutral language. “The recent neutral language, used ideologically, does not fit the purpose of a simple, clear and objective language, as the proposition under analysis intends”, explained Amaral in the amendment.

“This new form of inflection of gender and number of words in the Portuguese language is not common either in grammatical rules, in the cultured norm or in everyday life in what is considered the popular norm”, he added. During the discussion, deputy Prof. Paulo Fernando (Republicanos-DF) criticized the project. For him, the proposal will degrade the Portuguese language.

“What we are doing today is a disservice to Brazil”, he lamented. He accused the text of avoiding synonyms and impoverishing the official writing. Deputy Domingos Sávio (PL-MG) accused the text of restricting the public authorities’ ability to communicate. “The language is diminished, which for me is an attack on the Portuguese language,” he said.

Deputy Chico Alencar (Psol-RJ) stated that the proposal was improved by the plenary. “We need to be careful not to plaster official documents and also not to end up creating a cram school industry for the new standards and entering the field of commodification, which is also not appropriate”, he highlighted.