Lihtsustused

Lihtsustused refer to practices and results aimed at making complex information easier to understand. The term is formed from the verb lihtsustada, meaning to simplify, with a plural ending. In scholarly and practical discourse, lihtsustused describe any condensation, paraphrase, or reorganization that reduces cognitive load while preserving core meaning.

Lihtsustused can be linguistic, textual, or conceptual. Linguistic simplifications use everyday vocabulary and clearer syntax; textual simplifications shorten, reorganize, or restructure content; conceptual simplifications omit or compress details, focusing on essential ideas. Techniques include plain language, paraphrase, summarization, analogies, examples, and the use of visual aids.

Applications are common in education, language learning, journalism, and public policy. In education, they help learners access challenging material. In media and science communication, lihtsustused are employed to broaden audience understanding. In policy and law, plain language initiatives aim to reduce jargon and ambiguity.

Critics warn that excessive simplification can distort meaning, obscure important nuances, or misrepresent data. The quality of a lihtsustus depends on clarity, accuracy, and appropriateness for the target audience, with careful balance between accessibility and fidelity.

See also: plain language, simplification, summarization, readability.