PLAIN e-journal Volume 4 edition 1

PLAIN recently published Volume 4 edition 1 of its e-journal focusing on the theme of getting to know your reader. Who are they? What challenges do they face? What do they need? How can I get to know them? This collection of articles from 12 contributors (from 8 countries) contains an abundance of insight and practical advice that answers these questions and more.?

In this edition:

1. Giving readers the information they want and can use?

Virginia St-Denis reflects on how she’s connected with her various reading audiences throughout her career.?

2. How user testing helps writers and editors understand their audience

Susan Bell explains 2 time-tested user testing methods that have served her well in her long career.

3. Write for the uncooperative too

Helle Beer Urheim shares an interesting perspective of how to connect with readers who aren’t necessarily on our side. In the civic context, how do we reach understanding and hold up “rhetorical citizenship” with readers, or citizens, who may fundamentally disagree with us?

4. Writing for patients: A chronic problem with acute needs?

Karel van der Waarde explores the need for going back to basics in the medical sector – that is, speaking with patients and truly listening to them before starting the task of writing.?

5. Inclusion and access in cognitive behavioral therapy content

Vida Health explains how plain language principles led them to developing useful tools for patients to improve their mental health.

6. How user-centricity helps create more effective legal documents

Marie Potel-Saville summarizes her experience with user testing methods for 2 different groups: minors interacting with the internet and blue- collar shareholders of a large company.?

6. User testing halfway around the world

Liezl van Zyl explains some techniques she’s adapted to conduct user testing by distance, an increasingly common reality for many of us.

7. Plain language for the K-12 education system: Lessons from the Portland Public Schools District?

Marifer Sager lays out the complex case of delivering information to a school community in 6 languages.

8. Book review: Handbook of Easy Languages in Europe?

Kate Sotejeff-Wilson reviews the Handbook of Easy Languages, which gives an overview of the easy language landscape in Europe. In addition to her professional assessment, Kate has put what she learned in practice and offered her review in simplified language, with a summary translated into 3 languages.

?9. Updates from the International Plain Language Federation?

ISO certification of the plain language standard is close to being published. There is still work to do and the committee is focused on 2 core tasks: helping committee members engage with their national standards body and localizing the standard to their languages and culture.