We Can Also Translate Your Texts into Plain Language and Easy Language
In the healthcare sector, it is essential to communicate information clearly and comprehensibly. Plain language and easy language make a significant contribution to allowing complex content to be reliably understood by patients and users. This is not only crucial for the correct handling of medical products and medicines, but also for understanding important medical and pharmaceutical measures. For example, in the case of clinical studies, operations, or the signing of informed consent forms, it is essential that everyone involved knows exactly what is expected of them and what will happen. This is the only way to avoid misunderstandings and meet legal requirements.
The Difference Between Easy Language and Plain Language
The choice between plain language and easy language depends largely on the objective and the respective context. The biggest difference has to do with the target group: While plain language is designed for people with greater comprehension difficulties, easy language is aimed at more experienced readers. Both types of language make an important contribution to accessibility and ensure that information is easier to understand.
Plain Language
Plain language, also known as simple language, focuses on the reader. The language style, structure, and layout of a text are adapted so that readers:
- quickly find the information they need,
- reliably understand the content,
- and are able to apply this content in practice.
Plain language is used in technical documentation, legal texts, patient information sheets, and documents created for the general public or non-specialist experts. It facilitates access to complex topics, ensures better understanding, and creates trust between organizations and their target group. In addition, the translation process is made more efficient, as clear and comprehensible source texts create the basis for precise translations. The target groups are primarily laypersons, people without any particular specialist knowledge, or non-specialist readers.
Easy Language
Easy language is a highly simplified form of communication. It completely avoids foreign words, uses short, concise sentences, and relies on visual aids, such as pictures or lists. There are clear rules for creating texts in easy language, such as introducing each new sentence on a separate line.
Easy language is often used in the public sector, as public authorities are mandated to make digital services accessible. In addition to websites, printed information materials, such as brochures, can also be provided in easy language. It improves accessibility and enables people with comprehension difficulties to obtain information, communicate, and, for example, participate in democratic processes, such as parliamentary elections. The target group includes people with cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, or low reading skills, including functional illiterates and people with hearing impairments or dementia.
Plain Language and Easy Language Example
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Vascular occlusions that lead to an apoplexy are mainly caused by blood clots.
If the blood in a blood vessel in the brain coagulates, the blood can no longer flow properly. Then a part of the brain is no longer properly supplied. The brain can no longer work properly. This causes a stroke.
The blood flows in the bloodstream.
Perhaps a blood vessel is blocked. Then the blood can no longer flow properly.
Sometimes a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked.
The brain then receives too little blood.
Part of the brain can no longer work properly.
This is called: A stroke.
Barrier-Free Communication in Medicine
Translating Texts into Plain Language and Easy Language
mt-g is known for its personalized and friendly work approach.
Implementing the complex principles and guidelines can be a challenge that takes time and resources. mt-g is at your side as a valuable partner in this process. We provide you with experienced medical writers and content experts who are not only familiar with the latest developments in your field, but who also have mastered how to apply the various linguistic requirements.
We process all types of documents that may arise at a pharmaceutical company or medical technology manufacturer: from patient information sheets for every type of study, including informed consent forms, to usage instructions for drugs and medical device application systems and website texts for your product.
We provide it all from a single source – as part of this special service, we take care not only of your source texts, but also of the subsequent translation into all desired target languages
We support our customers with the following core services, among others:
- Generating texts in plain and easy language
- Recasting a technical text in plain or easy language
- Reviewing/editing/checking the compliance of an existing text in plain or easy language
- Carrying out readability or usability tests with the target group
- Translating texts in plain or easy language into a foreign language
Areas of Application of Plain Language and Easy Language
Plain language and easy language are used in a variety of areas in medicine and pharmacy. What all applications have in common is that they ensure that information is transmitted clearly and comprehensibly – both for laypeople and professionals. The aim is to ensure that all persons involved, regardless of their prior knowledge, can quickly grasp the necessary information and apply it reliably to ensure their health and safety.
- Lay summaries, generally understandable summaries of study results
- Lay protocol synopses and description of the structure and procedure of a clinical study in plain language
- Plain language summaries, summaries in plain language of publications on achieved study results
- Package leaflets/package inserts
- Usage instructions
- Corporate communications and marketing
- Patient and information brochures, informed consent forms
- Information sheets for people with health insurance
- Accessible websites, e.g., with information on diseases in easy language.
- Videos: Subtitles and voiceovers
- Social media
- Newsletter
- Legal texts
- Training material and specialist information for medical staff who need to quickly familiarize themselves with new topics
ISO 24495-1: The First Standard for Plain Language
When writing texts in plain language, it is advisable to follow the guidelines of ISO 24495-1. This international standard provides principles and clear guidance on how to design documents so that they are understandable and easily accessible. The focus here is on written information, which is made available in both printed and digital form. However, the guidelines can also be applied to audiovisual formats, such as podcasts or videos, in order to break down barriers in communication.
You can find more information on ISO 24495-1 in our blog post: ISO 24495-1: the first standard for Plain Language.
DIN 8581-1: Using Plain Language for German Texts
DIN 8581-1 sets out general rules for factual texts in plain language that apply specifically to German-language content. It is based on the four principles of ISO 24495-1 and applies its recommended requirements for the German language. Through this specification, the DIN standard provides a valuable basis for creating comprehensible and accessible texts in German.
