Last Sunday, the New York Times reviewed Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz. The author tries to take us inside the mind of a dog, drawing on the work of an early Twentieth Century zoologist who argued that understand an animal, one must first understand that animals ümwelt, or “self-world.” The ümwelt is the animal’s subjective experience.
Suppose I take my dog for a walk, and we walk past a rose bush in full bloom. I might look at the flowers and remark on their brilliant color or the fullness of the blossoms. To my dog, however, it’s just another plant. In his ümwelt it is no different from a ragweed or a dandelion. He might lean in to take a whiff, not of the fragrant flowers, but rather to see if any other dogs have urinated on the plant lately.
Although I have never smelled a legal document to check for urine, I can see how effective legal writing depends upon connecting with the ümwelt of the reader. A phrase like “piercing the veil” should be well within the ümwelt of a judge or attorney, but it is likely meaningless to laypeople – it is asking my dog, Max, if the rosebush is pretty.
<sniff sniff>“Oh, Talula, the beagle a couple doors down was here. I like her. She’s pretty. She let’s me sniff her butt.”
Different readers look for different things. Remember that.
1 comment so far ↓
You make a very good point. In their daily writing, attorneys are writing for a small audience of other attorneys who HAVE to read what they’re written.
When it comes to attracting potential customers, attorneys who cater to the public (e.g., those who practice in the areas of personal injury, wills and estates, small businesses, DUI, or divorce) need to shift gears.
When it comes to writing for any audience, simpler is better. When it comes to writing for the public, short, simple, and sweet is essential.
Good post!
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