Expressing Oneself Properly

Prensa Libre, through its opinion columns, delves into the nuances of language and its impact on public discourse, specifically targeting the misapplication of the term 'criminal policy' in Guatemala. The author argues that the common usage, driven by official pronouncements, fundamentally inverts the intended meaning. Instead of signifying policies designed to reduce crime, the phrase is interpreted, through linguistic distortion, as policy formulated by criminals. This linguistic inaccuracy, the piece contends, stems from a broader issue of 'linguistic laziness' prevalent in Guatemala, where common parlance often sacrifices precision for brevity, as seen in the casual shortening of words like 'profesor' to 'profe' or 'micrófono' to 'micro'.

The article posits that this linguistic sloppiness, while perhaps understandable in casual conversation, becomes problematic when it infects official terminology and legal discourse. The author laments the lack of linguistic rigor, suggesting that terms like 'criminological policy' or 'criminalistics' would more accurately convey the intended meaning of addressing crime and its related issues. The piece criticizes the 'power of the office' and the 'blindness of the emperor' – a metaphor for how authority figures can impose incorrect meanings without challenge, leading to a public understanding that is the opposite of the intended message.

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It is necessary to lack linguistic correctness to invert the very meaning of a clear statement with coherent meaning.

Furthermore, the critique extends to the legal field, citing the example of the term 'acción' (action) being used broadly in court proceedings, potentially obscuring more specific legal concepts like 'remedy' or 'constitutional action.' Prensa Libre, through this critical lens, advocates for greater linguistic precision in both public and legal spheres. The piece serves as a call for clarity, urging a return to accurate terminology to ensure that communication, especially concerning matters of justice and policy, is coherent and serves its intended purpose rather than creating confusion.

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In a country where they don't say Guatemala, but Guate; not professor, but profe; they say micro, for microphone, microwave, minibus, etc., linguistic laziness is proverbial.