inintelligibility

Inintelligibility is the quality of being difficult to understand or interpret. It describes a lack of intelligibility in speech, text, or other signals, where the intended message cannot be reliably recovered by a listener or reader. The term is often used as the opposite of intelligibility or clarity.

Causes of inintelligibility can be external or internal. External factors include background noise, limited bandwidth in a channel, rapid or mumbled speech, heavy accents, and unfamiliar terminology. Internal factors include cognitive load, language disorders such as dysarthria or aphasia, neurodegenerative conditions, fatigue, or inattentiveness. The context, including language familiarity and cultural references, also shapes whether something is intelligible.

Assessment commonly relies on perceptual judgments by listeners and may use standardized tests or rating scales to gauge how much of a message is understood. In clinical settings, reducing inintelligibility often involves improving articulation, slowing speech, choosing simpler vocabulary, or providing additional context or repeats. In written material, clarity can be enhanced through simpler syntax, shorter sentences, and explicit organization.

Related concepts include intelligibility, readability, and comprehensibility. The term emphasizes the practical impact of unclear communication on understanding, interaction, and information transfer across speakers, listeners, and contexts.