Ritva Hartama-Heinonen, Päivi Pasanen

Selkokoettimet: uusi työvä­li­ne selkoviestintään ja selko­tutkimukseen

Introduction

Selkokoettimet: uusi työvä­li­ne selkoviestintään ja selko­tutkimukseen. Uusi työkalu selkosuomen viestintään ja tutkimukseen. Tutki selkokielisiä tietokuvioita (kuten 'on', 'eli') vaikeiden sanojen selittämiseen ja kehittämiseen.

Abstract

This article further develops the idea of terminological knowledge patterns by introducing and applying this tool in a non-term and non-LSP context, namely that of written Easy Language (EL), or more precisely, Easy Finnish (EF). Easy Language is a language variety that is tailored with respect to its vocabulary, structure and content, and targeted at specific user groups. The aim of the article is to describe the nature, function and potential of the studied EF knowledge patterns, for instance, on (‘is’), eli (‘or’), tarkoittaa (‘means’), colon or kuten (‘such as’), to be applied in future EF research, communication and teaching. Twenty-eight knowledge patterns employed in explaining difficult words and utterances are examined with the help of a corpus of EF news texts from HIJJ to HIJK (YLE Finnish EL news archive) and the corpus tool Korp, and the observed eight function-based pattern categories receive a deeper yet preliminary analysis.

Review

This article presents a novel application of terminological knowledge patterns, adapting them for the context of Easy Language (EL), specifically Easy Finnish (EF). Moving beyond traditional term and Language for Special Purposes (LSP) domains, the paper introduces "Selkokoettimet" (Easy Language knowledge patterns) as a new analytical and practical tool for communication and research. The primary aim is to elucidate the nature, function, and potential of these patterns within EF, underscoring their utility for enhancing clarity and accessibility in communication targeted at specific user groups whose language comprehension may be limited. This interdisciplinary approach promises to enrich both the theoretical understanding and practical implementation of Easy Language principles. To achieve its objective, the study employs an empirical methodology, analyzing a corpus of Easy Finnish news texts sourced from the YLE Finnish EL news archive (HIJJ to HIJK) with the aid of the corpus tool Korp. The research meticulously identifies and examines twenty-eight distinct knowledge patterns—such as ‘is,’ ‘or,’ ‘means,’ a colon, or ‘such as’—that are commonly utilized for explaining difficult words and utterances within EF. From this detailed analysis, the authors categorize the observed patterns into eight function-based groups, providing a deeper yet preliminary analysis of their operational characteristics. This systematic investigation provides a robust foundation for understanding how linguistic structures are leveraged to simplify complex information in Easy Language. The article's contribution lies in its innovative conceptualization and empirical validation of Easy Language knowledge patterns, offering a valuable resource for future research, communication, and teaching in the field of EL. By systematically describing these patterns, the paper not only provides a concrete framework for analyzing and constructing EF texts but also offers practical guidance for practitioners aiming to improve the comprehensibility of their materials. The preliminary analysis of the eight function-based categories opens up promising avenues for deeper linguistic investigation, potentially leading to the development of more sophisticated tools and pedagogical strategies for Easy Language acquisition and production. This work is a significant step forward in formalizing the mechanisms of Easy Language simplification.

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