lesevennlighet

Lesevennlighet is a term used to describe the overall ease with which a text can be read and understood by a specified audience. It covers not only linguistic simplicity but also how information is presented and navigated. In practice, lesevennlighet combines content clarity, organizational structure, vocabulary choice, sentence length, paragraphing, typography, layout, and digital presentation to minimize cognitive load.

Key factors include: 1) language clarity: concrete terms, explicit definitions; 2) structure: headings, summaries, logical flow; 3) typography and layout: font size, line length, spacing, color contrast; 4) navigational cues: bullets, lists, glossaries; 5) cultural-linguistic accessibility: bias-free language.

Measurement: Researchers use readability formulas such as Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid, SMOG, or LIX; there are digital accessibility checks aligned with WCAG 2.x, including text contrast, resizable text, and scannability; usability testing with target readers; and considerations of multilingual comprehension. No single metric fully captures lesevennlighet; it is best assessed through multiple indicators.

Applications: in publishing, education, government communications, official websites, user manuals, and e-learning. It supports inclusive design by aiming texts that can be understood by readers with varying literacy skills, languages, or cognitive abilities.

Origin and discourse: The term is used in Norwegian discussions of readability and accessibility and reflects the broader movement toward inclusive communication. It is not a formal standardized metric but a framing concept that can guide style guides, editors, and designers.

See also: readability, legibility, accessibility, inclusive design.