Making Information Accessible: The Interplay Between Easy and Plain Language

Zeynep Şengel; A. Şirin Okyayuz

Article Details

Making Information Accessible: The Interplay Between Easy and Plain Language

Authors:

Zeynep Şengel | A. Şirin Okyayuz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi Issue 38, pp.88-107

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355941

pISSN:

2687-2846

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This study compares the basic principles of the five most widely used and cited Easy Language EL and Plain Language PL guidelines in international practice. These guidelines, IFLA, Inclusion Europe, IPLF, German EL Guidelines, and Turkish PL Recommendations, are compared under six main headings: definition, target audience, secondary target audience, areas of use, intended use, and general rules. The aim of the study is to analyze the commonalities and differences between these two language variants in writing accessible texts and to examine the concepts and possible approaches to this field in the Turkish context. Both EL and PL serve as tools that enhance social inclusion by improving access to information. While EL is designed for individuals with cognitive disabilities or other special needs and follows stricter linguistic rules, PL appeals to a broader audience and offers a more flexible structure in terms of language and narrative approach. However, in terms of intended use and general conventions, all the guidelines encourage the use of plain, clear, direct, and jargon-free language. The study proposes a modular framework focusing on the commonalities between EL and PL and suggests that a policy and approach can be developed through a needs analysis, particularly in the Turkish context, where the use of EL and PL practices is not yet widespread. In this regard, it highlights the need to identify and prioritize target groups, areas of use, and intended purposes in line with the specific needs in Turkey. Additionally, it advocates for a systematic approach to accessible communication by presenting a checklist based on the ISO 24495-1 standard, along with the shared principles of the guidelines.

 This study compares the basic principles of the five most widely used and cited Easy Language EL and Plain Language PL guidelines in international practice. These guidelines, IFLA, Inclusion Europe, IPLF, German EL Guidelines, and Turkish PL Recommendations, are compared under six main headings: definition, target audience, secondary target audience, areas of use, intended use, and general rules. The aim of the study is to analyze the commonalities and differences between these two language variants in writing accessible texts and to examine the concepts and possible approaches to this field in the Turkish context. Both EL and PL serve as tools that enhance social inclusion by improving access to information. While EL is designed for individuals with cognitive disabilities or other special needs and follows stricter linguistic rules, PL appeals to a broader audience and offers a more flexible structure in terms of language and narrative approach. However, in terms of intended use and general conventions, all the guidelines encourage the use of plain, clear, direct, and jargon-free language. The study proposes a modular framework focusing on the commonalities between EL and PL and suggests that a policy and approach can be developed through a needs analysis, particularly in the Turkish context, where the use of EL and PL practices is not yet widespread. In this regard, it highlights the need to identify and prioritize target groups, areas of use, and intended purposes in line with the specific needs in Turkey. Additionally, it advocates for a systematic approach to accessible communication by presenting a checklist based on the ISO 24495-1 standard, along with the shared principles of the guidelines.

 This study compares the basic principles of the five most widely used and cited Easy Language EL and Plain Language PL guidelines in international practice. These guidelines, IFLA, Inclusion Europe, IPLF, German EL Guidelines, and Turkish PL Recommendations, are compared under six main headings: definition, target audience, secondary target audience, areas of use, intended use, and general rules. The aim of the study is to analyze the commonalities and differences between these two language variants in writing accessible texts and to examine the concepts and possible approaches to this field in the Turkish context. Both EL and PL serve as tools that enhance social inclusion by improving access to information. While EL is designed for individuals with cognitive disabilities or other special needs and follows stricter linguistic rules, PL appeals to a broader audience and offers a more flexible structure in terms of language and narrative approach. However, in terms of intended use and general conventions, all the guidelines encourage the use of plain, clear, direct, and jargon-free language. The study proposes a modular framework focusing on the commonalities between EL and PL and suggests that a policy and approach can be developed through a needs analysis, particularly in the Turkish context, where the use of EL and PL practices is not yet widespread. In this regard, it highlights the need to identify and prioritize target groups, areas of use, and intended purposes in line with the specific needs in Turkey. Additionally, it advocates for a systematic approach to accessible communication by presenting a checklist based on the ISO 24495-1 standard, along with the shared principles of the guidelines.

 Bu çalışma, uluslararası uygulamalarda en çok kullanılan ve atıfta bulunulan beş adet Kolay Dil KD ve Sade Dil SD kılavuzlarının temel ilkelerini karşılaştırmaktadır. Bu kılavuzlar, IFLA, Inclusion Europe, IPLF, Alman KD Kılavuzu ve Türkiye SD Tavsiyeleri olup, bunlar, tanım, hedef kitle, ikincil hedef kitle, kullanım alanları, istenilen kullanım amacı ve genel kurallar olmak üzere altı temel başlık altında karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı, erişilebilir metin yazımında iki dil değişkesinin ortak ve farklı yönlerini analiz ederek, Türkiye bağlamında bu alana ait kavramları ve olası yaklaşımları irdelemektir. Hem KD hem SD, bilgiye erişilebilirliği sağlayarak, toplumsal içermeyi güçlendiren araçlar olarak kullanılmaktadır. KD, bilişsel engele veya daha farklı özel ihtiyaçlara sahip bireyler için tasarlanmış olup, daha katı yazım kurallarına sahipken; SD, daha geniş bir okuyucu kitlesine hitap ederek kullanılan dil ve anlatı yaklaşımı açısından daha esnek bir yapı sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, istenilen kullanım amacı ve genel kurallar açısından bakıldığında, tüm kılavuzların sade, açık ve doğrudan, jargondan uzak bir dil kullanımını teşvik ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma, KD ve SDnin ortak özelliklerine odaklanan modüler bir çerçeve önermekte, özellikle KD ve SD uygulamalarının kullanımının henüz yaygın olmadığı Türkiye bağlamında ihtiyaç analizi yaparak bir politika ve yaklaşım benimsenebileceğini öne sürmektedir. Bu bağlamda, hedef grupların, kullanım alanlarının ve amaçlarının Türkiyedeki ihtiyaçlar doğrultusunda belirlenmesi ve önceliklendirilmesi gereğinden bahsetmektedir. Ayrıca, kılavuzların ortak özellikleriyle birlikte ISO 24495-1 standardına dayalı bir kontrol listesi sunarak erişilebilir iletişime yönelik sistematik bir yaklaşım öne sürmektedir.

Article Details

Making Information Accessible: The Interplay Between Easy and Plain Language

Authors:

Zeynep Şengel | A. Şirin Okyayuz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi Issue 38, pp.88-107

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355941

pISSN:

2687-2846

Easy Language

Plain Language

accessibility

intralingual translation

accessible communicationKolay Dil

Sade Dil

erişilebilirlik

dil içi çeviri

erişilebilir iletişim

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Zeynep Şengel | A. Şirin Okyayuz

Publisher: Hacettepe University

Main Topics: Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal: Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi Issue 38, pp.88-107

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355941

pISSN: 2687-2846

Issues

Authors:

Zeynep Şengel | A. Şirin Okyayuz

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi Issue 38, pp.88-107

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355941

pISSN:

2687-2846