“When lost in a sea of jargon, a pellucid explanation is like suddenly finding dry land!”*

Instead of concentrating on how to improve translation and make it more attractive and readable, it is often worth working with the source, to give yourself a better start.

Most self-respecting companies who care about their corporate identity and who regularly publish content, marketing assets, documentation, white papers etc. have a Style Guide. This typically prescribes that texts should be attractive to read and easy to understand. No talking down to readers, no jargon, please. Companies say it is important that they address their audience in a way that is meant to be helpful and personal, and not artificial, or robotic.

Sadly, the reality more often than not is quite different: Source texts are full of jargon, unnecessary repetitions, tautologies, and very, very longwinded sentences. At the other extreme, they can also be elliptic to the extent that they require deep knowledge and are otherwise unintelligible. In both cases, I find ChatGPT extremely helpful. And I suggest that you might too.

IW

Hello dear ChatGPT. I am struggling with this sentence, which seems rather intricate. Would you be kind enough to make it more digestible for an uninitiated audience? “The adaptable XX architecture with high interoperability and composability can unite the front, middle, and back offices—enabling new levels of process orchestration, accelerating collaboration and decision-making, and allowing for new business processes without refactoring, redeploying, or enduring heavy services engagements.”

ChatGPT

Of course! Here’s a simpler version of the sentence:
“The flexible XX architecture, which can easily work with other systems and be customized, can bring together different parts of a company, such as the front, middle, and back offices. This helps streamline how tasks are organized, speeds up teamwork and decision-making, and allows for the creation of new business processes without the need for major changes, reinstallation, or complicated service agreements.”

IW

Great, many thanks. How about this one: Please re-write it in a simpler, more attractive way: “This is most effectively enacted when external data sources can 
be combined with trusted, secure application data in real time, 
while maintaining context and lineage and changing organically, based on transactions and events.”

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here’s a more straightforward and engaging version:
“This works best when you can seamlessly blend external data sources with your trusted, secure application data in real-time, all while keeping track of where the data comes from and how it evolves naturally through transactions and events.”

IW

Thank you, I find that definitely more digestible. Finally (I promise this is the last one for today:) Please give me a simple, straightforward version of this sentence: “Ideally, processes become triggered by business events, 
data integrations, UI, or API requests, or they can be scheduled 
and long running—always with a goal of automating previously manual processes and driving efficiency in the business”

ChatGPT

Of course! Here’s a simpler version:
“Processes should start either when something happens in the business, data gets connected, someone interacts with the interface, or through scheduled and ongoing tasks. The aim is always to automate tasks that were done manually before and make the business more efficient.”

IW

That is just brilliant. Thanks and goodnight!

ChatGPT

You’re very welcome! I’m glad I could help. If you ever have more questions or need assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Have a wonderful night!

Another day is dawning, here we go again.

IW

Please could you re-phrase this sentence in a simple, more intelligible manner: “When combined with an interoperable architecture, it enables organizations to scale with ease, pull data and insights from anywhere within the business to anywhere else within the business, and achieve a single source of truth—plus make many more gains that lead to nimble operations.”

ChatGPT

Sure! Here’s a simpler and more intelligible version of that sentence:
“When used together with a flexible system, it helps organizations grow easily, get information and insights from any part of the company and share it anywhere in the company, and establish one reliable source of information. This also leads to many other improvements that make the company more agile and efficient.”

IW

Well done! (This time I wish to dig a bit deeper:) Why did they not say it like that in the first place?

ChatGPT

The original sentence might have been written in a more complex way for several reasons:

1. Professional Jargon: Sometimes, people use complex language and technical terms to sound more professional or authoritative. This is common in business and technical writing, where precision and formality can be important.
2. Audience Expectations: The sentence might have been written for an audience familiar with the specific terminology and concepts used. In such cases, using industry-specific language can help convey information more precisely.
3. Conciseness: The original sentence tries to pack a lot of information into a single sentence, which can make it more concise but also more complex. In some contexts, brevity is valued.
4. Tradition: Certain industries or fields have a tradition of using complex language, and it’s sometimes seen as the norm or a way to establish credibility within that field.

However, in more general or explanatory contexts, it’s often better to use simpler language to ensure a broader audience can easily understand the message. Writing in plain and clear language is a skill that’s especially important when trying to communicate complex ideas to a wider audience.

IW

What insights you have! Very helpful indeed.

ChatGPT

Thank you for your kind words! I’m here to help and provide insights to make information more understandable and accessible. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please feel free to ask.

IW

Dear ChatGTP. Please would you kindly rephrase this sentence for me: New research from XXX identifies the key forces driving complexity, and sure-fire strategies for managing change.

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here’s a rephrased version of the sentence:
“Recent studies conducted by XXX reveal the primary factors contributing to complexity, along with effective approaches for handling change.”

IW

Wow, so much clearer than the original! Well done. Could you actually give me the reasons for changing the statement in the way you did?

ChatGPT

Of course! Here’s a breakdown of the reasons for the changes I made to the original sentence:

1. Clarity: The revised sentence eliminates some jargon and uses simpler language to make it easier for a broader audience to understand. For example, “New research” is replaced with “Recent studies,” which is a more straightforward term.
2. Specificity: “Identifies” is replaced with “reveal” to make the action more explicit and concrete. “Reveal” implies a clear presentation of findings, whereas “identifies” could be seen as more vague.
3. Engagement: “The key forces driving complexity” is rephrased as “the primary factors contributing to complexity” to make it sound more engaging and informative. It gives the reader a better sense of what the research is about.
4. Variation: The original sentence uses the phrase “sure-fire strategies for managing change,” which is rephrased as “effective approaches for handling change.” This change adds variety to the language while maintaining the meaning. “Effective approaches” is a bit more specific and dynamic, which can capture the reader’s attention.
5. Flow: The revised sentence has a smoother flow, making it easier to read and comprehend. It avoids potential redundancies or awkward phrasings present in the original sentence.

In summary, the changes were made to enhance clarity, engagement, and overall readability while maintaining the core meaning and intent of the sentence.

As mentioned, sometimes difficulties stem from short, but jargon-stuffed sentences… For those too, you might be well advised turning to ChatGPT.

IW

Dear ChatGPT, please could you explain to me the concept of “agency journey” as in this heading: “Agency journey to Zero Trust maturity?”

ChatGPT

The concept of an “agency journey to Zero Trust maturity” likely refers to the process or path that a government agency or organization follows as it strives to achieve a higher level of maturity in implementing a Zero Trust cybersecurity framework.
Here’s a breakdown of the key components in this concept:

1. Agency: This refers to a government organization or any other entity that is responsible for specific functions or services. In this context, it is an organization looking to enhance its cybersecurity practices.
2. Journey: In this context, “journey” signifies the path or process that the agency takes to reach a specific destination or goal. It implies that achieving Zero Trust maturity is not a one-time event but rather a continuous effort involving multiple stages or phases.
3. Zero Trust: Zero Trust is a cybersecurity framework and strategy that is designed to enhance security by assuming that threats may exist both inside and outside the network. It emphasizes the need for strict access controls, continuous monitoring, and verification of trustworthiness for all users and devices trying to connect to resources within the organization.
4. Maturity: “Maturity” in this context refers to how well an organization has implemented the Zero Trust framework and practices. It can be measured on a scale, with higher maturity indicating a more robust and effective implementation of Zero Trust principles.

So, when the sentence mentions “Agency journey to Zero Trust maturity,” it means that the agency is actively working on improving its cybersecurity posture by adopting the principles and practices of Zero Trust and progressing through various stages or levels of maturity in the implementation process. This journey typically involves assessing current security measures, identifying weaknesses, implementing Zero Trust principles, and continuously improving security measures to reach a higher level of maturity and resilience against cyber threats.

IW

Dear ChatGPT: What is “tech debt” in this sentence: “The journey to eliminate tech debt, adopt modern cloud apps, drive efficiency, and improve security and user experiences starts with identity.”

ChatGPT

In the context of the sentence you provided, “tech debt” refers to the accumulated software or technology issues, inefficiencies, or outdated practices within an organization’s technology infrastructure. It represents the need to address and resolve these issues to improve the overall efficiency, security, and user experience of their technology systems. So, the journey mentioned in the sentence involves eliminating or resolving these technical debts while also adopting modern cloud applications and focusing on identity management as a starting point for these improvements.

IW

And here is another elliptic phrase whose meaning is a bit enigmatic: “Powering every public sector priority” . Can you elaborate?

ChatGPT

The phrase “Powering every public sector priority” is a succinct and somewhat abstract statement often used in marketing or promotional materials, especially in the context of technology or services aimed at government or public sector organizations.
In this context, it suggests that the product, service, or solution being discussed has the capability to support or enhance various initiatives or goals within the public sector. It conveys the idea that the offering is versatile and adaptable, capable of assisting with a wide range of objectives that government or public sector entities might have.
Essentially, it’s a way of saying that the product or service is designed to be flexible and effective in addressing the specific needs and priorities of government agencies, without specifying any one priority in particular. It’s meant to emphasize the broad applicability and utility of the offering within the public sector.

IW

Dear ChatGPT: Could you explain to me the concept of “time tax” as here: “Deliver effortless government services with modern identity. Cut the time tax.”

ChatGPT

Certainly! In the context you provided, the term “time tax” refers to the idea that individuals or businesses often spend a significant amount of time dealing with bureaucratic or administrative tasks when interacting with government services. These tasks can include filling out forms, providing identification, waiting in lines, or navigating complex procedures.
The goal of the statement you shared, “Deliver effortless government services with modern identity. Cut the time tax,” is to suggest that government services should be made more efficient and user-friendly. By using modern identity verification methods and streamlining processes, the aim is to reduce the amount of time and effort that people have to invest when interacting with government agencies. In essence, cutting the “time tax” means making it easier and quicker for individuals and businesses to access and utilize government services.

IW

And could you explain to me the concept of “credential stuffing”, please?

ChatGPT

In German, the term “credential stuffing” is often referred to as “Kontenmissbrauch” or “Zugangsdatenmissbrauch.” These terms describe the unauthorized use of stolen login credentials to gain access to user accounts on various online platforms. Please note that while these terms convey the general concept of credential stuffing, they may not be as widely recognized as the English term, as cybersecurity terminology can vary across languages.

IW

I see, well the German sounds much less exciting than the US term, doesn’t it?

ChatGPT

Yes, you’re right. The German term “Kontenmissbrauch” or “Zugangsdatenmissbrauch” may sound less dramatic or exciting compared to the English term “credential stuffing.” Often, technical terms related to cybersecurity and technology are adapted from English, and their translations may not always capture the same level of excitement or vividness. However, the important thing is that these terms convey the same concept, which is the unauthorized and fraudulent use of login credentials.

IW

Totally agree!

ChatGPT

I’m glad you agree!

And so it goes. Your take-away: Sometimes it is quicker to get AI to reformulate an obscure source-text sentence. This may be particularly true of texts originating in the USA, written by marketers, who seem to indulge in either very complex or very elliptic phrases with a good sprinkling of jargon.

*Taken from One-Word-A-Day Wordbutler, whose word of the day for 3 Oct. was ‘pellucid’ (which I only got on my 3^rd try). Look up OWAD here: https://owad.de/about-owad, and register. It’s free, fun and full of interesting words, incl. their etymology, use, etc.