LONDON, DEC 2 (REUTERS) - A GROUP DEDICATED TO CLEAR, LUCID ENGLISH BESTOWED ITS ANNUAL PRIZE FOR MEANINGLESS JARGON TO A SCOTTISH CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY.

MARTIN CUTTS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMMISSION SAID EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL HAD WON THE "GOLDEN RHUBARB TROPHY" FOR WRITING WHICH "ALMOST DEFIES TRANSLATION".

CUTTS, WHOSE INDEPENDENT PANEL PROMOTES THE USE OF CLEAR LANGUAGE IN GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS, SAID A COUNCIL LETTER ON WASTE RECYCLING WAS "A FOG OF PUZZLING AND POMPOUS ENGLISH".

THE LETTER TO A BEFUDDLED RESIDENT EXPLAINED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS "FULLY COMMITTED TO WASTE MINIMISATION AND THE RECYCLING OF WASTE AND HAS...APPROVED, IN PRINCIPLE, A REVISED STRATEGY ENCOMPASSING THE INTRODUCTION OF MATERIAL RECYCLING FACILITIES POST-REFUSE COLLECTION AND PRE-FINAL DISPOSAL."

02-12-97