BUREAUCRACY English versus Italian

1
BUREAUCRACYEnglish versus Italian

• Burocrazia/burocrate and bureaucracy/bureaucrat
  from the French bureau office in the 18th
  century from impersonal routine to a
  complicated and inefficient system of rules (new
  compound noun Eurocrat) often with a
  derogatory meaning
• civil service/civil servant versus statale,
  dipendente pubblico, servitore dello stato
• BUROCRATESE, LINGUA DELLA PUBBLICA
  AMMINISTRAZIONE,, COMUNICAZIONE SOCIALE,
  PUBBLICITA PROGRESSO
• LEGALESE, BUREAUCRATESE, GOBBLEDYGOOK,
  OFFICIALESE, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, HUMANITARIAN
  ADVERTISING

2
THE LANGUAGE OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS TENDS TO BE
SIMPLER IN GREAT BRITAIN

• ITALY
• a) historical reasons Latin as the language of
  the Roman Empire and the legal system late
  national unification influence of the Catholic
  religion
• b) linguistic policy Semplificazione del
  linguaggio Amministrativo since the 1990s
• c) prevailing cultural attitude a
  high-context culture where information is
  taken for granted

• GREAT BRITAIN
• Historical reasons earlier national unification
  invention of printing in the 15th century
  importance of the Protestant Reformation King
  James translation of the Bible into English in
  1603 scientific style in the 18th century
• linguistic policy Plain English Campaign since
  the 1950s-70s
• a low-context culture where information is made
  explicit

3
DOSSIER TEXT 10

• COMMUNICATING IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NEW LOCAL
  RESIDENTS
• Communities and Local Government Publications
• www.communities.gov.uk
• February 2008

4
Textual features

• Text genre written (and on-line) document
  addressed by a public institution to local
  authorities about how to inform new people who
  will settle in their community
• Textual organization alternation of explanations
  and examples of information packs, of exposition
  and instruction, use of numbered and/or titled
  sections, paragraphs, graphic devices.
• Clarity achieved through lexical repetition,
  parallel patterns and use of either common
  concrete words (e.g. keep streets clean) or
  general and simple words (e.g. things)

5
Syntactic features

• . Many simple sentences made of one clause or
  coordinated clauses, and containing non-finite
  clauses few subordinate clauses
• . Use of personal pronouns (we/you) with active
  verb forms (we may be able to improve and
  your council can tell you) to involve the
  addressees few passive forms
• . Use of modal verbs that express possibility
  (may, can, could), intention (will), advice (
  should), ability (can),
• rarely obligation (must)

6
LEXICAL FEATURES

• Use of simple and general words (e.g. to
  produce, information, thing, new, important)
• Repetition of key words ( e.g. information packs,
  rights and responsibilities)
• Some words are explained or simplified ( G.P
  (general practitioner) doctor lose your job
  being sacked)
• The semantic field of immigration migrant,
  refugee
• Use of politically correct, friendly
  expressions new local residents/communities

7
BALANCING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (section 3,
p. 3)

• People may act differently from what you expect
  in your own country. These are some of the things
  that may cause problems in the local community
• putting out the rubbish your council can tell
  you which bins to use and when the rubbish is
  collected, and they will supply recycling bags
• noise people can complain to the council about
  noise and other nuisance
• queuing it is usual to join the back of a
  queue, dont push in, it can make people angry
• footpaths dont block the paths, if you need to
  group together find an area with plenty of space
• parking can cause problems in busy streets or
  where a number of cars are owned by one household
• drinking and smoking in public can cause
  offence and is banned in most areas from summer
  2007

8
Unwritten rules of behaviour (section 5, page 5)

• You may see ways of behaviour which are new to
  you, and may be uncertain how to act. For example
  in Gateshead, and throughout the UK, if you are
  waiting to be served in a busy shop or office,
  you must stand in a queue, which is a line of
  people waiting in turn to be served. People
  generally feel that it is very bad manners to
  spit in the street. In the UK it is very
  important to arrive on time for all appointments.
  To arrive late can create a very bad impression,
  and can have serious consequences, for example
  losing your job (being sacked), losing your
  college place, losing your G.P (doctor), or
  losing your hospital appointment.

9

• How does one acquire the citizenship of a country?

10
How does one acquire the citizenship of a country?

• Very complex and controversial issue.
• Three main ways
• ius loci, by being born in a country
• ius sanguinis, by acquiring the parents
  citizenship
• By naturalization

11
CitizenshipThis page can be found at
http//www.uscis.gov/citizenship (United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services)

• All persons born or naturalized in the United
  States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
  are citizens of the United States and of the
  state wherein they reside. No state shall make or
  enforce any law which shall abridge the
  privileges or immunities of citizens of the
  United States nor shall any state deprive any
  person of life, liberty, or property, without due
  process of law nor deny to any person within its
  jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
• XIV Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• Citizenship is one of the most coveted gifts that
  the U.S. government can bestow, and the most
  important immigration benefit that USCIS can
  grant.  Most people become U.S. citizens in one
  of two ways
• By birth, either within the territory of the
  United States or to U.S. citizen parents, or
• By Naturalization.
• In addition, in 2000, Congress passed the Child
  Citizenship Act (CCA), which allows any child
  under the age of 18 who is adopted by a U.S.
  citizen and immigrates to the United States to
  acquire immediate citizenship.
• This channel of USCIS.gov will give you
  information on the various paths to citizenship.
  This page can be found at http//www.uscis.gov/cit
  izenship

12
UPDATEDCivics (History and Government)
Questions for the Redesigned (New) Naturalization
Test

• The 100 civics (history and government) questions
  and answers for the redesigned (new)
  naturalization test are listed below. Applicants
  who filed the Application for Naturalization,
  Form N-400, on or after October 1, 2008, should
  study this list. The civics test is an oral test
  and the USCIS Officer will ask the applicant up
  to 10 of the 100 civics questions. An applicant
  must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to
  pass the civics portion of the naturalization
  test.
• Although USCIS is aware that there may be
  additional correct answers to the 100 civics
  questions, applicants are encouraged to respond
  to the civics questions using the answers
  provided below.

13
Examples from the 100 questions of the test, with
suggested answers

• A Principles of American Democracy
• 1. What is the supreme law of the land?
• 2. What does the Constitution do?
• 3. The idea of self-government is in the first
  three words of the Constitution. What are these
  words?
• 4. What is an amendment?
• B System of Government
• 17. What are the two parts of the US
  Congress?
• 18. How many US senators are there?
• C Rights and responsibilitIes
• 48. What is one responsibility that is only
  for United States citizens?
• A American History
• Colonial Period and Independence
• 58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
  
• 59. Who lived in America before the Europeans
  arrived?
• C Recent American History and Other Important
  Historical Information
• 78. Name one war fought by the United States in
  the 1900s.
• 80. Who was President during the Great Depression
  and World War II?
• 81. Who did the United States fight in World War
  II?
• Integrated civics

14
Suggested answers

• 1) the Constitution
• 2) sets up the government / defines the
  government / protects basic rights of Americans
• 3) We the People
• a change in the Constitution / an addition (to
  the Constitution)
• 17) The senate and the House of
  Representatives
• 100
• Serve in a jury
• Vote in a federal election
• freedom / political liberty / religious freedom
  / economic opportunity / practice their
  religion
• American Indians / Native Americans
• World War I / World War II / Korean War /
  Vietnam War / (Persian) Gulf War
• (Franklin) Roosevelt
• Japan, Germany, and Italy
• July 4
• New Years day, Martin Luther King s Day,
  Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence
  Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day,
  Thanksgiving, Christmas

, and Italy
15
Knowledge of language and life in the United
Kingdom for English speakerswww.lifeintheuktest.g
ov.uk

• If your English skills are higher than ESOL Entry
  3, you will need to pass the Life in the UK test
  before you submit your application for
  citizenship. The test consists of 24 multiple
  choice questions based on the information in the
  handbook 'Life in the UK A Journey to
  Citizenship'. The handbook was last updated in
  March 2007 you should make sure you use this
  version of the handbook when preparing for the
  test. The handbook is available from good
  bookshops, or you can order it directly from The
  Stationery Office. If you have a visual
  impairment, there is an audio CD version of the
  handbook available.
• If you are in the United Kingdom, the test can be
  taken at one of the 100 Life in the UK test
  centres. Details on how to prepare for and book
  your test are available on the Life in the UK
  test website. If you have a visual impairment,
  the test is available in large print or the
  computer can read out each question for you. If
  you have special needs, you should contact your
  nearest test centre for details of the support
  they can provide.
• The test costs 33.28. You will need to pay the
  fee at the test centre before you begin the test.
  You will also need to photographic ID before you
  take the test. The Life in the UK test website
  provides details of suitable forms of ID.
• .

16
SOME EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS DOWNLOADED FROM
THE OFFICIAL TUTORIAL. www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk

• 1) Where is the Prime Minister's official home in
  London?
• Downing Street
• Parliament Square
• Richmond Terrace
• Whitehall Place
• 2) Which TWO places can you go to if you need a
  National Insurance number?
• Department for Education and Skills
• Home Office
• Jobcentre Plus
• Social security office
• 3. Is the statement below TRUE or
  FALSE?Citizens of the UK can vote in elections
  at the age of 18.
• TRUE
• FALSE

17
The correct answers

• The correct answer is Downing Street
• 2. The correct answers are Jobcentre Plus and
  Social Security Office
• 3. The correct answer is TRUE

18
Questions from websites

• If a driver has more than the permitted amount of
  alcohol in his/her body or refuses to take the
  testHe or she will be arrestedHe or she will be
  taken to his homeHe or she will be given a
  warningHe or she will be asked to provide
  medical certificate
• Which of the following is not required for a new
  car?
• MOT TestSeat beltsRoad TaxCar insurance
• Many other religions are explained to children in
  all the schools as part of their lessons in
  religious education in the UK
• TrueFalse

19

• There is concern in Britain over the age at which
  some young people start drinkingTrueFalse
• People in part-time work do not have legal
  protection from discriminationTrueFalse
• The voltage supplied to almost all properties in
  the United Kingdom is ______110 Volts150
  Volts240 Volts480 Volts