{"id":2361,"date":"2023-12-16T20:00:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T20:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germanlanguageservices.com\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2024-01-22T23:19:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T23:19:04","slug":"in-plain-sight-translation-and-plain-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/germanlanguageservices.com\/de\/in-plain-sight-translation-and-plain-language\/","title":{"rendered":"In Plain Sight: Translation and Plain Language"},"content":{"rendered":"

How plain language can ease the translation process<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve all come across a text, online or in print, that has stumped us. It uses words we don\u2019t understand (jargon or uncommon terms). There is a complicated syntax that can\u2019t be untangled. The text attempts to convey complex ideas in a dense manner. Whatever the cause, when your content is difficult to understand, you risk losing your audience. Whether you\u2019re a business attempting to sell products or services, a nonprofit organization trying to persuade potential donors, or a scientist sharing information, it\u2019s important to write clearly and concisely.<\/p>\n

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Plain language can also help make the translation process easier and, potentially, less expensive and time-intensive. A text that is written in plain language will be easier to understand and therefore faster (and possibly less expensive) to translate into other languages. This benefits both the translation customer and, ultimately, the reader. But what exactly is plain language and how can you apply it in practice?<\/p>\n

What is plain language?<\/h3>\n

Plain language seeks to make content easy to understand and accessible to a wide audience. It prioritizes simplicity and straightforwardness. It uses everyday words, clear sentence structures, and concise explanations, while minimizing jargon and complex terminology. Nor does it dumb down content. Instead, the focus is on making the information more digestible. A Nielsen Normal Group study<\/a> showed that even domain experts like medical professionals and scientists preferred plain language.<\/p>\n

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The nonprofit translation organization Translators without Borders provides eight key principles<\/a> that translators (and writers) should adhere to when working on projects. These principles include:<\/p>\n

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