WHY WORK WITH SKRIVANEK?
Skrivanek Baltic is a leading language company in Latvia, providing high-quality foreign language learning and translation services. The aim is not only to provide easy-to-read and plain language services but also a great service experience. Our customers appreciate us for this reason. Here’s what you can expect when working with us:
- Wide format support – pdf, jpg, idml, json or html – it doesn’t matter. With the help of our DTP – desktop publishing specialists, we provide text processing in various file extensions. So you don’t have to worry about processing your documents.
- Easy-to-read and plain language specialists – our team includes qualified linguists specialising in different industries, so specialist vocabulary is not a problem. Even the most complex text will be adapted to the requirements of easy-to-read and plain language.
- Fast, online offer – no need to wait hours for an offer. We can prepare an offer within 15 minutes. In any case, you can book an online consultation. There, we will give you a more detailed offer and answer all your questions.
Both easy-to-read language and plain language are designed to make information more accessible and understandable. They are very similar, but each has a different target audience and different characteristics.
See below for a brief description of each of these languages. We will also provide a brief list of recommendations and principles for use, to give you an idea of when using this service might be right for you!
WHAT IS EASY-TO-READ LANGUAGE?
Easy-to-read language is a form of communication that makes information understandable to everyone. Today, the information space is becoming more and more complex as everyone speaks their own language. Officers have their own way of expressing themselves, while lawyers, IT specialists and doctors have another. Sometimes it is difficult to understand each other. But the complex can be made easy to understand. Therefore, we offer to use easy-to-read language as an opportunity for people to be equally included in society.
Need text in easy-to-read or plain language? Contact us!
Or book an online consultation for easy-to-read or plain language now!
EASY-TO-READ LANGUAGE
Recommendations and principles for use:
- avoid long sentences, complex sentence structures (one sentence = one idea);
- avoid unnecessary words;
- avoid foreign words, incomprehensible Latvian words, professional terminology (use terms that are well-known in society);
- avoid negative sentences, passive voice;
- avoid phraseologies, as not everyone knows or understands them;
- avoid percentages and big numbers (instead, use “few”, “many”, etc.);
- information can be repeated; it is even strongly advised to explain complex words several times;
- use at least 1.5 line spacing, a minimum font size of 14, and keep paragraphs as short as possible.
PLAIN LANGUAGE
Recommendations and principles for use:
- the shorter the better. This does not mean that the entire text should be made up of short sentences. It is recommended to use both short and long sentences. Short sentences should emphasise the most important points, while longer sentences should be divided into two (the average sentence length should be between 15 and 20 words). In plain language, slightly shorter);
- use active voice;
- use words appropriate for the target audience;
- avoid unnecessary words;
- use examples, as this helps people to understand the idea more quickly. In addition, examples should be simple, relevant to the recipient’s worldview, field of activity or education.
It is worth noting that easy-to-read and plain language is not simplification. The aim is to make information accessible and understandable, not to reduce its content or meaning. Easy-to-read language is a way of making complex information understandable to all. Plain language is an effective way of making information accessible to a broader audience.
HOW CAN EASY-TO-READ LANGUAGE HELP THE READER?
It helps the reader to understand complex information.
Studies show that 15–25% of people in each country are unable to understand complex information. Therefore, easy-to-read language is important. It ensures that information is clear to a broader audience. It helps us understand how we learn to read and how different parts of the brain work together to process written language. This in turn helps us to develop best practices for teaching these skills so that everyone can learn to read proficiently.
Easy-to-read language is designed for people with intellectual disabilities. For example: neuropsychiatric conditions (including ADHD, ASD, Asperger’s Syndrome and Tourette Syndrome), dyslexia, aphasia, as well as learning and literacy difficulties. Easy-to-read language materials are also beneficial for those who use them for language learning, such as immigrants and children.
The materials are also useful for the visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing. They communicate in sign language on a daily basis and may have a limited understanding of phraseology, metaphors and other means of artistic expression.
PLAIN LANGUAGE STANDARD – ISO 24495-1:2023
The Plain Language Standard was established in 2023.
This Standard is documentation that sets out the principles and requirements for using plain language to make information more accessible and understandable. This standard ensures that everyone, regardless of literacy level or language ability, can access important information.
The Standard emphasises that plain language should be used in all types of documents, including legal, technical and informative materials. The standard states that information is considered accessible if the reader is able to understand what is written the first time of reading, and quickly find the information they need.
It covers the essential elements of plain language but does not cover all forms of communication. This standard only applies to printed or digital information, which is mainly text.
Skrivanek will help you proofread ready-made texts as well as translations in both easy-to-read and plain language. Even if you have doubts about whether the text you have prepared is in easy-to-read or plain language, a Skrivanek language specialist will be there to help. Our specialists will make the appropriate adjustments to ensure that your text meets the requirements, allowing you to achieve the best result.
To ensure the best possible learning experience, we also apply the principles of plain and easy-to-read language in our foreign language training and children’s camps!
