laajakirjo

Laajakirjo is a Finnish term used in linguistics and media studies to describe a broad repertoire of writing styles and registers intended for a wide audience. It encompasses formal and informal language, technical and everyday vocabulary, and a range of tonalities from objective to narrative. The concept stands in contrast to narrow, highly specialized discourse designed for a limited readership.

The word combines laaja, meaning broad, with a bound form linked to writing (kirjoitus or related roots). It appears mainly in scholarly contexts rather than in everyday language, and is commonly associated with discussions of readability, accessibility, and audience design in texts.

In practice, laajakirjo denotes the aim of making content approachable for diverse readers. Authors tailor syntax, terminology, and formatting to balance accuracy with clarity, without sacrificing essential information. The concept is related to the plain language movement and to the broader idea of designing text for broad readership.

Contexts in which laajakirjo is discussed include education, public communications, and media. Public service announcements, government reports, educational materials, and many online news portals or blogs often engage in a form of laajakirjo by blending formal and informal registers to reach a general audience.

See also: laaja kirjo, plain language, audience design.