The Center for Applied Linguistics (“The Center” or “CAL”) is dedicated to international understanding through multilingual education and linguistic diversity. Their mission is to support language learning and cultural services, to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and to foster multilingual language communities.
There are many ways that linguistic principles can be applied when learning a new language. Additionally, there are numerous ways that language and communication can be incorporated into the learning process. The Center’s goal is to promote these practices and to provide support to all language educators. They aim at delivering high quality and comprehensive services for all of their clients, from policymakers to researchers to language learners.
A key principle behind language education and applied linguistics is understanding the importance of being able to communicate clearly. For example, if a student cannot read and understand what their teacher is saying, then they are unable to learn. This concept may seem obvious. However, this is also a theory that can be applied to more than just classroom settings.
Words mean different things to different people. Additionally, words mean different things in different parts of the world. Technically speaking, the meaning of a word is called its “denotation.” However, the connotation – or “what that word brings to mind” – is typically more important because that is the meaning we associate with that word. For example, the word “dog” technically refers to a domesticated canine. However, to most people it might bring to mind a childhood pet, their own pet, or even a wolf. These are connotations. As such, trying to communicate a concept or idea can result in a breakdown of communication if the person is not familiar with the words you chose to use.
In this way, when drafting a contract – especially one to be used across a variety of industries and fields – it is important the contract is as easy to understand as possible. This is why even the most well-crafted security agreements can fall short if the right individuals are not also involved during the drafting process. For example, if those drafting the contract were not communicating with a translator, then the translator would not have an opportunity to review and confirm that legal terms are properly being translated and used.
In this way, a translator can assist in the understanding of a contract similar to that of language education. For example, if terminology is being improperly used, similar to what might occur in a classroom, then the model of communication being used could be flawed and the concepts could be lost between individuals who understand the material in different ways. This is why it is so important to have the contract carefully looked at by as many eyes as possible and from as many different perspectives as possible.
When drafting a contract, it is important to consider how it will be used, who it will be used by, and how the concepts being used may be foreign to potential users. For this reason, companies should have any contracts they are thinking about using reviewed by counsel to ensure they contain appropriate language and no hidden terms or concepts. To learn more about what to include in a security guard contract, click here to view the promoted article, What to Include in a Security Guard Contract, available online at this link.