More than simple words: the importance of easy language

Imagine opening a website with important information – and barely being able to understand a word. The sentences are long, the terms are complicated, the content seems like a dense web of technical language and abstract formulations. For many people, this challenge only arises when filing their tax return; for others, it’s part of everyday life.

For people with learning difficulties, poor reading skills or limited knowledge of the language of the country in which they are living, language itself can become a barrier. Texts that most take for granted are difficult for such people to access – and are therefore often not viable. If you don’t understand a text, you can’t use it. Comprehensibility is therefore much more than a linguistic ideal: It is a prerequisite for genuine participation.

In Germany, “easy language” (Leichte Sprache) was developed to remove this barrier – a concept with clear rules that makes information as accessible as possible. Easy language uses short sentences, familiar words and a clear structure. Pictures or symbols often support understanding. The goal is for people who have difficulties with complex formulations to be able to read and understand texts without help.

Where does the idea of easy language come from?

The origins of easy language go back several decades – and they are closely linked to social movements that fought for equal rights and participation. It started in Scandinavia: In Sweden, work was already being done in the 1960s to prepare information in such a way that people with cognitive impairments can understand it independently. These early approaches later also shaped international initiatives.

The concept of easy language has its roots in the Anglo-American world: Founded in 1974, the organization People First developed the concept of “Easy Read” (i.e. easy or easy-to-read language). From the outset, the aim was to make official texts and information understandable for people with learning difficulties, thus enabling them to participate in society and exercise self-determination.

Around 20 years passed before the problem was also clearly identified in Germany. It was only through a self-help association that it became clear how often people failed to access everyday information – not due to a lack of interest, but because the texts were too complex. This realization laid the foundation for the systematic development of easy language in Germany.

In 1997, several people with learning difficulties came together to form an initiative under the motto “We represent ourselves!” (“Wir vertreten uns selbst!”) It was in this context that the first dictionary was created, which explained key terms in a particularly comprehensible form.

Nine years later, the Netzwerk Leichte Sprache (Easy Language Network) was founded, bringing together various initiatives, self-help groups and specialist organizations. With the definition of rules for easy language and a comprehensive range of training courses and translations, it has made a decisive contribution to the fact that easy language is now recognized as an independent form of communication in Germany.

So, easy language is by no means a spontaneous invention. Instead, it’s the result of many years of commitment to inclusion, self-advocacy and barrier-free communication.

Why is easy language important?

The motivation behind easy language is obvious: Many people are unable to understand complex or formal texts for various reasons – be it due to learning difficulties, dementia, a lack of reading experience, functional illiteracy or because they are just learning the language of the country in which they are living. For them, simple words and clear structures are not a matter of taste, but an existential prerequisite for participating in social life.

In practice, easy language is no longer only used for official letters or official information. There are now also appropriately written novels, non-fiction books and stories so that people who are dependent on them also have access to literature, education and culture.

In short: Easy language breaks down social barriers – it opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

The current status and challenges of easy language

Today, easy language is more than just a niche offering. Through institutionalization, research, and political and legal recognition, it actively contributes to making communication more inclusive.

Research shows that easy language is also increasingly being used in the digital space – by public authorities, in the healthcare sector, in social services, in the education sector and, in some cases, in the media landscape (for example, the Tagesschau has also been broadcast in easy language since June 12, 2024). In this way, it reaches people who would otherwise be excluded.

At the same time, there are limits and challenges:

• Regulation vs. naturalness: As easy language follows fixed rules (no foreign words, short sentences, etc.), some people fear a restriction of linguistic diversity. However, experts argue that the core messages are retained and that easy language creates new access points.
• Target groups and needs: The heterogeneity of the target groups – people with learning difficulties, dementia, a different native language or low reading skills – makes it difficult to create a “uniform” easy language that is equally suitable for everyone. Texts often have to be checked and adapted for specific target groups.
• Distribution and supply: Despite all the progress, supply remains limited. A lot of important information – especially complex factual texts – is still only available in standard language. There is also often a lack of awareness of who needs easy language and why.

Nevertheless, increasing institutional support, legal requirements and the commitment of self-advocacy organizations make it clear that easy language is a relevant and growing tool for inclusion today.

Easy language = plain language?

In addition to easy language, there is another concept that focuses on comprehensibility: plain language. Even though both approaches pursue similar goals and are therefore easily confused in everyday life, they differ significantly in their target group, their flexibility and the way they are expressed linguistically. This difference is important in order to understand when which form is useful and appropriate.

Easy language follows a fixed set of rules that consistently focuses on comprehensibility. This includes short, clear sentences, a vocabulary of familiar and frequently used terms, and a linear structure without linguistic embellishments or mental leaps. Technical terms, abbreviations or ambiguous formulations are avoided because they can easily lead to misunderstandings. This approach is aimed at people who can only grasp information reliably if it is formulated very clearly, unambiguously and without additional hurdles.

Plain language, on the other hand, is much more flexible. It is based on standard language, but deliberately avoids complicated sentence constructions, unnecessary foreign words or formulations that are difficult to access. Technical terms may be used, but must be explained or embedded. Plain language is particularly helpful for people who are not yet fully familiar with the language of the country in which they are living, rarely read or are overwhelmed by complex topics – without reducing the linguistic expression too much.

An example from the context of sustainability serves to better illustrate this:

In standard language, one might write:
“Our company is pursuing the goal of making all production processes more sustainable in the long term in order to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.”

Plain language:
“We want to make our production more environmentally friendly. That’s why we want to emit less CO₂ and improve our processes step by step.”

Easy language:
“CO₂ is a gas.
It is pronounced like this: See-Oh-Two.
Our work produces CO2.
But too much CO2 is bad for the environment.
That’s why we’re thinking:
What can we do
so that our work produces less CO2?”

This example shows that plain language makes it easier for people to access and find their way around, while easy language ensures that content can also be understood by people who rely on particularly well-structured and easy-to-grasp formulations.

Easy language as an opportunity for companies

Accessibility is becoming a key quality feature in more and more areas. What used to be associated primarily with structural measures or technical aids now also includes digital and linguistic access. Because even the best service or the most intuitive website is of little use if some people cannot understand the content.

By providing information in easy language, companies can expand their potential target group. Content that was previously difficult to understand is made accessible to people with different language skills. This means that messages achieve a greater reach, are perceived more widely and can have a more lasting effect. In an increasingly diverse society, this is a decisive advantage.

Easy language can also offer added value for people without disabilities. Clearly structured, easy-to-understand formulations make it easier to grasp information and can make complex content more accessible. This strengthens transparency and trust – qualities that are valued today by customers, team members and the public alike.

Conclusion

Easy language is more than just a linguistic concept. It emerged from the commitment of people who fought for their own participation. As an integral part of barrier-free communication, it now opens up access to information that has remained closed to a large part of the population for far too long, thus promoting communication that leaves no one behind and creates space for different needs. At Leinhäuser, we know that language can become a barrier for many people. This awareness shapes our work and our view of texts – regardless of the format in which they are created.