Culture for Everyone: How Text Simplification Makes Communication Accessible

11/02/2025
Editorial
In the world of cultural consulting, accessibility is not limited to removing architectural barriers or digitizing content.
Too often, as we have discussed many times, reading difficulties related to conditions such as color blindness, specific learning disorders (SLD) like dyslexia, or even common vision problems are underestimated. These issues can often be improved through careful choices of colors, fonts, sizes, and brightness.
Another frequently overlooked but fundamentally important aspect is the simplification of the language used in texts and communication.

Why Simplify Language?
Simplifying language does not mean trivializing content but making it accessible to a broader audience. This includes not only people with cognitive difficulties but also those with different levels of language proficiency—such as children and non-native speakers.
In the 20th century, the Plain Language movement gained momentum, particularly in English-speaking countries. This approach avoids complex technical terms, jargon, or intricate sentence structures, instead favoring common words and concise phrasing. In Italy, a notable example is Tullio De Mauro and his project for the simplification of administrative language.
Of course, we fully acknowledge the need to balance simplification with maintaining cultural depth. There are certainly contexts where complexity can be intellectually stimulating.
However, it is essential to consider the setting in which a text appears, its potential audience, the intended goals, and the mission of the institution communicating the message. When the aim is dissemination and inclusion, the language used should help reach the widest possible audience, serving as a gateway to cultural enrichment.
The Importance of Textual Adaptation
To prevent knowledge from becoming an obstacle to communication, it is essential to complement the work of the scientific committee with activities focused on simplification and textual adaptation. This process doesn’t mean trivializing content but rather reorganizing and rewriting it in a clearer and more accessible way, without compromising its accuracy.
As a company specialized in cultural consulting, we offer practical solutions to improve content accessibility, making communication more inclusive and reachable for a broad and diverse audience. We analyze and restructure texts, suggesting linguistic and visual changes that facilitate understanding and engagement.
In an increasingly inclusivity-conscious cultural landscape, adopting clear and accessible communication is a crucial step toward building a more equitable and aware society.
Relying on professionals for textual simplification means opening the doors of culture to everyone, without exclusions.