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| Councils ban use of Latin terms | Councils ban use of Latin terms |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A number of local councils in Britain have banned their staff from using Latin words, because they say they might confuse people. | A number of local councils in Britain have banned their staff from using Latin words, because they say they might confuse people. |
| Several local authorities have ruled that phrases like "vice versa", "pro rata", and even "via" should not be used, in speech or in writing. | Several local authorities have ruled that phrases like "vice versa", "pro rata", and even "via" should not be used, in speech or in writing. |
| But the ban has prompted anger among some Latin scholars. | But the ban has prompted anger among some Latin scholars. |
| Professor Mary Beard of Cambridge University said it was the linguistic equivalent of ethnic cleansing. | Professor Mary Beard of Cambridge University said it was the linguistic equivalent of ethnic cleansing. |
| Some local councils say using Latin is elitist and discriminatory, because some people might not understand it - particularly if English is not their first language. | Some local councils say using Latin is elitist and discriminatory, because some people might not understand it - particularly if English is not their first language. |
| Bournemouth Council is among those which has discouraged Latin. It has drawn up a list of 18 Latin phrases which its staff are advised not to use, either verbally or in official correspondence. | |
| The council denies that it places a ban on Latin words. | |
| A council spokesman said: "We advise against using certain words, particularly when staff are writing to those whose first language may not be English. | |
| "The advice is intended as a guide only, not a direction." | |
| However, the council's Plain Language Guide lists Latin under the heading "Things To Avoid". | |
| Other local councils have banned "QED" and "ad hoc", while other typical Latin terms include "bona fide", "ad lib" and "quid pro quo". | Other local councils have banned "QED" and "ad hoc", while other typical Latin terms include "bona fide", "ad lib" and "quid pro quo". |
| But the move has been welcomed by the Plain English Campaign which says some officials only use Latin to make themselves feel important. | But the move has been welcomed by the Plain English Campaign which says some officials only use Latin to make themselves feel important. |
| A Campaign spokesman said the ban might stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation e.g. with the word "egg". | A Campaign spokesman said the ban might stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation e.g. with the word "egg". |