The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, took part this Tuesday in the Pan-Hispanic Plain Language Network presentation, held as part of the 9th International Congress of the Spanish Language.
This initiative is linked to the recently signed collaboration agreement between the Ombudsman and the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) to promote the use of plain language in Public Authorities, by which the institution undertakes to supervise the use of clear language by Spanish authorities in their communication and relations with citizens.
Ángel Gabilondo, for his part, wanted to remind us of the difference between “comprehending and understanding”. Thus, he assured that “it is not enough to say that something can be understood, it is a question of it being comprehended” and stressed that “staying with understanding does not always help us comprehend, so a language is not clear simply because it is understood”. On the contrary, language is a simple procedure that requires articulation, coordination and organisation.
Ángel Gabilondo has also advocated recovering “the language of face-to-face”. Thus, he pointed out that this language “means that the other must be considered a fellow human being, as an equal, far from any notion of a subject, but as an active and free citizen”. It is as if one had to speak from the other as if one had to speak by listening to the other, listening to the other even before they say and speak from one’s listening. It is more than just putting yourself in their shoes. It is recognising that the other person’s place is always theirs, and only then can a real conversation occur.
The purpose of the Pan-Hispanic Plain Language Network aims to promote linguistic clarity as a foundation of democratic values and citizenship, as well as the commitment of the authorities to ensure it in all areas of public life.
The Ombudsman institution joined this Network, which was formalised on 9 June 2022 in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Chile, as part of its founding core.
The RAE organises the 9th International Congress of the Spanish Language, the Association of Spanish Language Academies (ASALE), the Cervantes Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, and the Mayor’s Office of Cadiz.
