Ensuring everyone can have their say: plain language
German is regarded as the language of poets and intellectuals. But rather than always being stylish and refined, language sometimes has to be easy to understand – for everyone.
What is plain language?
Plain language is a variant of written German that is as accessible as possible. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has published a guide and a set of rules on this subject in cooperation with the plain language network Netzwerk Leichte Sprache. The idea is that by using simple words, short sentences and a “spoken” style, texts can be made accessible to as many people as possible. As such, this concerns nothing less than participation in public life – a key requirement for democracy.
Examples of plain language in everyday life
Netzwerk Leichte Sprache recommends using “buses and trains” instead of “public transport”, for example, while the verb “genehmigen” (“approve”) is to be replaced with “erlauben” (“allow”). There are examples of complete sentences, too. According to the guide, one sentence that some people might find difficult to understand is:
“I lent my good friend Leo a book about the history of Berlin.”
The translation into plain language is as follows:
“Leo is a good friend of mine.”
“I lent him a book.”
“The book is about the history of Berlin.”
Who needs plain language?
According to plain language interpreter and translator Anne Leichtfuß, 14 million people across Germany are dependent on the use of plain language. These include people with mental disabilities, learning difficulties or extensive reading and writing difficulties. Such difficulties may also result from an acquired speech disorder, for example following a stroke or as a result of dementia. People from abroad with a limited knowledge of German also benefit from plain language.
Plain language in the law
Plain language promotes accessibility and participation. According to Article 3 of Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law: “No person shall be disfavoured because of disability.” Germany has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which states that inclusion of persons with disabilities is a human right. This is implemented through a series of laws such as the Disability Equality Act and the Federal Participation Act. For this reason, information issued by the federal government and federal ministries is also available in plain language in Germany.
