William D. Lutz

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William D. Lutz
Born (1940-12-12) December 12, 1940 (age 83)
Rutgers University-Camden

William D. Lutz (/lʌts/; born December 12, 1940) is an American linguist who specializes in the use of plain language and the avoidance of doublespeak (deceptive language). He wrote a famous essay The World of Doublespeak on this subject as well as the book Doublespeak[1] His original essay and the book described the four different types of doublespeak (euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language) and the social dangers of doublespeak.

Biography

In 1962, Lutz received his

Rutgers University-Camden in 1971, and was made a full professor in 1991. He retired from teaching in 2006.[2]

From 1980 to 1994, Lutz edited the now defunct Quarterly Review of Doublespeak.[3][4] He worked as a consultant with a number of corporations and the United States government to promote the use of 'plain language'. For example, he was a significant contributor to the SEC's Plain English Handbook.[5]

Selected publications

External videos
video icon Booknotes interview with Lutz on Doublespeak, December 31, 1989, C-SPAN
video icon Presentation by Lutz on The New Doublespeak, August 6, 1996, C-SPAN
  • (1974) The Age of Communication[6]
  • (1989) Doublespeak: From "Revenue Enhancement" to "Terminal Living"[1]
  • (1994) The Cambridge Thesaurus of American English[7]
  • (1996) The New Doublespeak: Why No One Knows What Anyone's Saying Anymore
  • (1999) Doublespeak Defined: Cut Through the Bull**** and Get the Point

References

Further reading

  • (1978) Contemporary Authors: A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields volumes 33–36, 1st revision, Gale Research, Detroit,

External links