selkokielen

Selkokieli is a form of Finnish designed to be easy to read and understand. It aims to improve accessibility for people with limited reading ability, cognitive differences, or who are learning Finnish as a second language. Selkokieli uses simple, everyday vocabulary, shorter sentences, concrete nouns, and an active voice. It avoids idioms and complex sentence structures and emphasizes clear, unambiguous phrasing. Texts are often organized with clear headings and may include definitions, examples, and supportive visuals.

In practice, selkokieli is used in public administration, health care, education, media, and online communications to convey essential information. Documents may be provided in both standard Finnish and a selkokieli version. The writing process often involves collaboration with representatives from the target audience, readability checks, careful layout, and the use of bullet lists and illustrations to aid comprehension.

Selkokieli is not a separate language but a writing style within Finnish, aligned with the broader plain-language movement. There are guidelines and training for producing selkokieli texts, and many institutions publish materials in selkokieli to promote inclusion. The approach aims to ensure that diverse readers can access information on equal terms, supporting understanding and participation in civic, healthcare, and educational contexts.