Lihtsustumine

Lihtsustumine is an Estonian term meaning the process of making something simpler. It is used across disciplines to describe reducing complexity, streamlining processes, or producing easier-to-understand representations, while preserving core function or meaning.

In linguistics, lihtsustumine refers to the reduction of complexity in speech or grammar, such as the simplification of forms in spoken language or historical sound changes that reduce phonetic contrasts.

In information technology and data analysis, it denotes model or data simplification—reducing the number of variables, using approximations, or selecting core features to improve interpretability, speed, or robustness.

In design, education, and engineering, lihtsustumine describes reducing interfaces, product forms, or explanations to their essential elements.

The practice involves trade-offs: simplification can improve usability and efficiency but may reduce accuracy or nuance. Effective simplification requires careful analysis of which features are essential and an explicit assessment of how their removal affects overall performance or understanding. See also simplification, reduction, and abstraction.