Research On The Expression Of Administrative Language By Grass-Roots Leaders In Downward Communication

Due to the fast approach of digital information era, the academic circle is paying more and moreattention to administration communication. As the lead persons of primary-level workers and subordinatesof the middle or senior leaders, grassroots leaders are in the important position of “upward and downwardcommunication”. Thus, communication plays a crucial role. The implementation of polices issued by thestate in grass-roots work will fully rely on the function of “downward communication” which can stimulatethe workers or masses to put into practice and action together,language must bu used.However, thelanguage is not the “language” in the daily life but a kind of language sign only suitable in administrativeactivities–administrative language. Administrative language is an important tool for grassroots leaders,administrative workers and the general public to deliver messages, through which a good publicrelationship is established with one another, thus administrative goals can be effectively achieved.Administrative language, as a new term, is not clearly defined yet. Therefore, it is of significance to probeinto the definition of administrative language and analyze its application in the downward communication.Administrative language is a symbol of delivering the development information of administrativeactivities used by the staff of state administrative organizations in dealing with national affairs, socialpublic affairs and the internal affairs of authorities. Like the characteristics of traditional languages,administrative language is also featured by instrumental role, persuasiveness, principle, flexibility andepochal character and others. The difference is that administrative language is still characterized byauthoritativeness and political nature due to the particularity of the power and position of leadership.Administrative language is an important medium through which leaders carry out administrative activities,an important aspect of demonstrating the brilliance and communicative competence of leaders and also asignificant test of the abilities of leaders.With the development of institutional reform, the administrative language applied by the leadersalso changes accordingly. Apart from tending to plebification, language is getting more simple and sincere.Even the administrative content is more close to the life of the common people. The livelihood issuesbecome the priority among priorities. However, such a positive trend is not well presented in theadministrative activities of grassroots leaders. These problems hinder the grassroots leaders from coordinating relations and the relations of public communication. The existing problems of applyingadministrative language include three aspects, namely inappropriate means of language expression,ambiguous expression of decisions and unclear administrative goals. To solve these problems, the first stepis to analyze the reasons of the problems. Thus, the better solutions can be found. The main reasons lie indifference in the qualities of the leaders, the existence of traditional concepts and unsound administrativemechanism. Due to such main causes as inappropriate way of language expression of grass-roots leaders,ambiguous expression of decision content and vague administrative objective, there are some problemsexisting in the application of administrative language. The author analyzes in detail the problems ofadministrative language expression in aspects of personal factor, social system as well as managementmechanism by applying theories of pragmatics, so as to find better solution for those problems. From theperspective of the emergent problems of grass-roots leadership in the application of administrativelanguage and the causes of those problems, the administrative language expression of an excellentgrass-roots leader should possess certain standards. Firstly, the expression of administrative languageshould be concise and comprehensive; secondly, internal affection should be paid attention to; thirdly, theexpression should keep pace with the times; finally, the “degree” of expression should be well grasped.Only when grass-roots leaders master those standards can the leadership work go on smoothly.Based on these problems, we should improve the language expression level of grassroots leadersin downward communication from four aspects. Firstly, it is requisite to strengthen the self-cultivation ofgrassroots leaders. Only by enriching themselves, can they have “opinions” to express and speak withfervor and assurance, which is a guarantee of improving the application level of administrative language.Secondly, a perfect system of administrative language should be established, which can ensure theimprovement of the application level of administrative language. Finally, it is necessary to abide by the artof language expression of the leaders, which is an internal need for improving the application level ofadministrative language.By this token, the entire administrative activity is indispensible from the use of administrativelanguage, while it is also very important. To combine the research on the use of administrative languagewith leadership and public relations can enable grassroots leaders not only to attach greater importance tothe use of administrative language on thought but also to realize the importance of it. Only by this, can the use of administrative language be improved so as to achieve the administrative goal as soon as possible.