Plain language’ is clear and comprehensible communication defined by specific standards. Plain language should make texts easier to understand for people with cognitive disabilities or limited knowledge of German, so as to ensure information security and independent use of websites and documents.
Back in 2011, the Barrier-Free Information Technology Regulation (BITV 2.0) established that German authorities must make the main content of their websites available in plain language, but laws on the design of accessible websites are constantly being updated. On 29 June 2025, the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) will come into force in Germany, which extends the obligation to ensure digital accessibility also to private companies. Although the use of plain language is not yet compulsory under this law, private companies are also increasingly opting to translate parts of their websites into plain language. The aim is to make the content easier to understand and use for people with cognitive disabilities, learning difficulties or limited knowledge of German.
Translation requires expertise
There are precise rules on the professional reformulation in plain language of what are often very complex original texts, which means it can only be performed by qualified personnel. SMG Languages has been successfully translating texts from standard German into plain language for several years. Our German language experts, all of whom have specific qualifications and many years of experience in the field of plain language, adhere to the ‘Rules for Plain Language’ of the Netzwerk Leichte Sprache, an important point of reference in Germany together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Leichte Sprache and the Research Centre for Easy Language of the University of Hildesheim Foundation.
The rules include:
- various linguistic rules, such as using short and simple active sentences and avoiding negations, subjunctives, genitives and synonyms;
- spelling rules, such as the use of hyphens to clearly indicate compound terms;
- rules on text content, such as avoiding figurative language and explaining foreign words and abbreviations; and
- recommendations regarding typography and use of media, for example, placing each sentence on a separate line and using pictures to make text easier to understand.
The first difficulty in translating into plain language is to simplify complex sentences without diluting their expressive power. The explanation of complicated concepts must make them easier to understand, but must not detract from the content. Plain language does not mean childlike language.
Plain language implies teamwork
Only people with appropriate training and extensive experience can perform this delicate task. This is why SMG Languages has in recent years endeavoured to create a team that is very familiar with this particular form of writing. Our translated texts are professionally checked by readers belonging to the target groups to ensure that the plain language used is understood by all people with cognitive disabilities or limited language skills. In this way, we actively contribute to fostering their independence.