Plain English and Multilingual Government Communication

This report explains why translating and interpreting have been included as core considerations in the Plain English Policy of the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care (Health). Typically, translating and interpreting do not appear in such policies, and the idea that plain English supports goals of multilingualism and multiculturalism is a relatively new justification for its advocacy. Therefore, this report first summarises existing scholarship, which provides a theoretical basis for connecting plain English with translation and interpreting. Second, it presents firsthand data collected on this link in Australia in 2023. Researchers surveyed non-English speakers to evaluate their views of documents translated from plain English government communications into various languages, compared to documents not drafted according to these principles. Overall, the report suggests that strong empirical and theoretical foundations support the idea that translating and interpreting are fundamentally enhanced by plain English principles. Health’s policy, which incorporates these principles, therefore advances the communication aims of the government, meets the information needs of non-English-speaking Australians, and supports the professionalism of interpreting and translation professions. This report addresses each of these benefits in turn.<p></p>