Keep it Simple: The rise of “plain language”

Have you ever gone cross-eyed reading your insurance documents? How about a legal topic that should seem straightforward but is filled with words and acronyms you don’t understand? The plain language movement aims to help people to actually understand what they are reading, with a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard called “Plain language. Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines.”

This is an important topic for translators because we often put a lot of effort into making sure to translate original “wordy” documents in a way that makes them less intimidating, thus more accessible, for the reader. The International Plain Language Federation states: “A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.” I think this move to accessibility will benefit us all.

UC Berkeley’s Department of Digital Accessibility points out easy ways to use plain language, such as considering your audience and using an active voice. For these tips and more, visit the Department of Digital Accessibility’s webpage, “What is plain language?” Another organization, Plain Language Association International, also has great resources. Cheers to keeping it simple!