Weasel Words


If you have had a gutful of trying to understand what anyone is talking about these days there are a couple of books or sites you might like to have a look at...like when my eldest sister came out of a meeting at the hospital where she worked and said she had no idea what that meeting was all about...because it had all been cloaked in Weasel words which sound impressive to the uninitiated...but mean nothing whatsoever. She bemoaned the waste of time which could have been better spend doing Renal Dialysis...the job for which she is paid, than to sit and listen to a table full of Human resources type people find new ways to justify their existance.

I have recently finished "Weasel words" by Don Watson and "Death Sentence (the decay of public Language)" also by Don Watson. I reccommend a look at the website
http://www.weaselwords.com.au/index3.htm

Some examplesof the clarity of political speak which make it all clear as crystal:-
"Biological agent'What John Howard and Alexander Downer call flour. The Age: 'Howard's bio-terror distortion.'Whack those HAZCHEM signs on your kitchen cupboards now.

'It's not an identity card ... it's an access card that's used to authenticate identity.'A spokeswoman for Human Services Minister Joe Hockey. From an article on ZDNet (thanks again to Michael Crowe)

'If you cannot read, this brochure tells you where to get lessons.'Centrelink leaflet on multi-cultural services (thanks to Ian McDonald

'If accepted, (and we note that the factual matrix on which this hypothesis rests is not made out), it would not help ...'Tasmanian Anti Discrimination Tribunal (thanks to Jennifer)

‘Policy is a mechanism for the translation of the priorities and values of the organisation into programs and practices to deliver outcomes.' A government definition of policy. (Thanks to Craig Hamilton)

'A new focus highlighting the role volunteering plays not just in contributing to the delivery of government services but also in enhancing social capital, as a vehicle for community education and behaviour change, and for building the capacity and connectedness of individuals and communities in Western Australia...'Premiers Circular 2006/09-Guidelines for Successful Partnerships between Public Sector Agencies and VolunteersFrom morris in the Forum