Selkokielistettyjä

Selkokielistettyjä refers to texts that have been simplified in language and structure to make them more accessible to a wider audience. This process, known as selkokielistäminen in Finnish, aims to remove jargon, complex sentence structures, and abstract concepts, replacing them with clearer, more direct language. The goal is to ensure that individuals with varying levels of reading comprehension, including those with learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, or individuals learning the Finnish language, can understand the information.

The principles of selkokielistäminen often involve using shorter sentences, common vocabulary, and providing explicit explanations for any potentially difficult terms. Repetition of key information may also be employed. The resulting texts are often referred to as selkokieli or plain language texts. This approach is widely used in Finland for official documents, news articles, health information, and educational materials. The aim is to promote equal access to information and to empower individuals to participate more fully in society by ensuring they can understand important content. Organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting plain language work to create and disseminate selkokielistettyjä materials across various sectors.