Yleisönkielinen

Yleisönkielinen is a Finnish term describing language that is intended for a broad general audience rather than for experts or specialists. It refers to texts or speech that aim to be easily understood by non-specialists, avoiding unnecessary jargon, technical terms, and dense structures.

The core idea is clarity and accessibility. Yleisönkielinen writing emphasizes plain vocabulary, short sentences, active voice, logical organization, and concrete examples. It often involves defining key terms, using headings or bullet lists, and presenting information in a predictable, user-friendly order. While the concept overlaps with related approaches such as plain language and easy-to-read formats, yleisönkielinen describes the practice of communicating to the public at large rather than prescribing formal standards.

Contexts and applications commonly include public sector communications, official notices, policy summaries, consumer information, health and safety information, and educational materials. In practice, it may be supported by user testing, feedback from target audiences, and adherence to general writing guidelines that favor clarity over stylistic complexity.

Relationship to other concepts: selkokieli is a more formal, structured subset of easy-to-read language designed for people with reading difficulties; yleisönkielinen is broader and oriented toward a general readership. Both aim to reduce barriers to understanding but operate with different scope and specifics.

Benefits of yleisönkielinen communication include improved comprehension, accessibility, and trust in information. Potential challenges involve balancing accuracy with simplicity and avoiding oversimplification or loss of important nuance.