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From: "Stephen A. Carter" <hticn@GOL.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list LANTRA-L <LANTRA-L@SEARN.SUNET.SE>
Date:         Sat, 13 Jan 1996 10:33:13 +0900
Subject:      COMPLETELY FRIVOLOUS! NOT FOR THR HUMOR IMPAIRED!

I'm forwarding this message (with permission) from the Honyaku mailing
list, as it dealis with a topic near and dear to the hearts of
translators everywhere.

----- Start forwarded message -----
I was reading a new issue of Society for Technical Communication's
magazine, Intercom, and found a column on the lighter side titled
"Nine Easy Steps to Longer Sentences." This is a list of the "nine
simple steps" you can follow "to increase the length and number of
words in your sentneces and the bulk of your writing" (in case you
are paid by the word ;> ). Though these steps are for English
sentences, we can easily do the similar things for Japanese sentences!

Here are the steps:
Step 1: Begin to lengthen your statement by referring to studies, even
        if you're not aware of any studies.
Step 2: Replace simple words with multiple-syllable words of Latin or
        Greek origin.
Step 3: Use sophisticated verbs, the more vague the better. (The verb
        "found" is too clear and simple, whereas "indicate," "develop,"
        and "identify" are excellent multi-purpose verbs with so many
        meanings that you can use them in almost any context to mean
        almost anything...)
Step 4: Rely on such often meaningless adjectives as "available,"
        "applicable," and "appropriate" to lengthen sentences without
        changing or adding any meaning.
Step 5: Use weasel words as often as possible.
Step 6: Sprinkle your sentences with classic redundancies.
Step 7: Add meaningless "it is" and "there is/are" expressions.
Step 8: For the precision that all good writing deserves, use legalisms,
        the more redundant the better.
Step 9: Use foreign words and phrases to lengthen and enliven your sentences.

Sample sentence:
<Before> "More night jobs would keep youths off the street."

<After> "There is no escaping the fact that it is considered very important
to note that a number of various applicable studies ipso facto have generally
identified the fact that additional appropriate nocturnal employment could
usually keep juvenile adolescents off thoroughfares during the night hours,
including but not limited to the time prior to midnight on weeknights
and/or 2 a.m. on weekends."

        (Excerpted from Intercom, STC, January 96. Originally written by
        Ken McGinty, STC Phoenix Chapter)

Mariko Nakanishi
marina@learningtree.com
Los Angeles, CA
----- End forwarded message -----