What is plain language (plain English)?
Plain language, often called plain English in Australia, is a way of writing that makes content clear and easy to understand on first reading. It avoids jargon and complex sentence structures, which makes it essential for accessible translations across literacy levels.
Detailed description
Plain language is a communication approach that prioritises clarity, simplicity, and accessibility, ensuring that content can be understood by the widest possible audience on first reading. In translation, plain language principles are applied to ensure that translated content is accessible to audiences with varying literacy levels, education backgrounds, and familiarity with the subject matter.
Plain language in translation involves several practices: using common, everyday words rather than technical jargon or bureaucratic language; writing in short, clear sentences with simple grammatical structures; organising information logically with the most important points first; avoiding acronyms, abbreviations, and cultural references that may not be understood; using active voice rather than passive constructions; and providing context for technical terms that cannot be avoided.
Plain language is particularly important when translating content for CALD communities in Australia, where the target audience may include people with limited formal education in their heritage language, people who are literate in their spoken language but more comfortable with simpler written forms, older community members whose literacy may differ from younger generations, and people from refugee backgrounds who may have experienced interrupted education.
Health literacy research consistently demonstrates that plain language improves comprehension, recall, and the likelihood that people will act on information. That makes it a critical approach for health, safety, and government communications.
LEXIGO applies plain language principles to translations where accessibility is a priority, ensuring that translated content communicates effectively to the full diversity of the target audience, not just the most educated segment.
Why it matters
Content that is technically correct but written at a reading level beyond the audience's comfortable comprehension fails to communicate. This is particularly problematic for health information, safety instructions, government forms, and legal rights: content where understanding has direct consequences for the reader.
Applying plain language principles to translation is not about dumbing down content. It is about removing unnecessary barriers to comprehension so that the message reaches everyone it is intended for.
Related questions about Plain Language
What is the difference between plain English and plain language?
They mean the same approach: writing so the intended audience can understand and use the information the first time they read it. Plain English is the common Australian name, and plain language is used internationally and for languages other than English.
Is plain English the same as Easy English?
No. Easy English, also called Easy Read, is a simpler format for people with low literacy or intellectual disability, using very short sentences and supporting images. Plain English is for a general audience.
Why does plain language matter for translation?
Clear English source text produces clearer, more consistent translations and fewer queries. Jargon, idioms and long sentences are harder to translate accurately and can confuse readers in any language.
What are the Australian Government's plain language guidelines?
The Australian Government Style Manual is the main guide. It recommends writing for your audience, using common words, short sentences and clear structure, and testing content with users.
How do you write plain English for multicultural audiences?
Put the key action first, use everyday words, explain any necessary terms, avoid idioms and metaphors, and test with people from the community. Then translate the plain version into the languages people use.