Author’s answer to ‘mental constipation’

Press, 26 April 1989, Page 29

Author’s answer to ‘mental constipation’

By

PAM MORTON

Most people suffer from mental constipation when it comes to writing letters, says an Australian body language expert, Mr Allan Pease. To show that letters can be fun he has written “Write Language,” a book co-authored with a fellow Australian, Mr Paul Dunn. Anything that begins with “Dear Sir” and ends with “Yours faithfully” will end up consigned to a rubbish bin, says Mr Pease. "Letters that start in

this way don’t get read and more than half of them will end up in the rubbish bin. “We don’t talk like that in everyday conversation, so why should it be used writing a letter.” Mr Pease said language had changed but letter writing was still behind the times. “We write the way people spoke in England 200 years ago. “Most people hate writing letters and it’s becoming a dying art.” The most difficult

letters to write are complaints, love letters and good-byes. The most difficult letter for a man to write was a love letter, said Mr Pease — “that’s why they don’t write them.” Love letters included in the book had been “field tested” by women and were what they wanted to hear, he said. “Write Language” is the third book written by Mr Pease on communication. His other books include “Body Language” and “Talk Language.”