The Plain Language Centre promotes plain-language information, communication and culture. The centre makes initiatives and creates new ideas of application for plain language. It is an operative unit of FAIDD, but it serves all people and groups interested in plain language.

The Plain Language Centre

• publishes the Selkosanomat (Plain Language News) and LL-Bladet (Swedish-language version) newspapers.
• maintains a plain-language website
• carries out informative projects
• serves as a channel of cooperation and information exchange in the field
• produces services in the field of plain language, such as education and editing services
• promotes plain-language literature by, for example, distributing the state support

The website of the Plain Language Center (www.papunet.net) contains a large selection of information on, for example, the principles of plain language and timely issues.

Plain Language News and LL-Bladet

Selkosanomat (Plain Language News) and its Swedish version, LL-Bladet are bi-weekly newspapers. The current affairs newspapers report on events in Finland and abroad, sports, culture and entertainment. They are suited for all people who have difficulties reading or who have limited language skills. The readers include, for example, immigrants, Finnish emigrants abroad, ageing people, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The newspapers are politically and religiously unbiased.

The web editions of Selkosanomat and LL-Bladet can be found on the Internet through the Papunet plain language pages (www.papunet.net). The website is only available in Finnish.

Selkosanomat and LL-Bladet are also published as facsimile versions, which can be accessed through the Papunet plain language pages (www.papunet.net). The website is only available in Finnish.

Papunet plain language pages

The Plain Language Centre edits a plain-language website including, for example, timely information on society, Finnish red letter days and historical characters, as well as various information sheets and other plain-language material. Papunet Network services also hosts an online bookshop through which plain language books can be ordered.

Papunet plain language pages (www.papunet.net), only available in Finnish.

Support for plain-language literature

The Plain Language Centre does not publish plain-language books, but it promotes plain-language literature in other ways (e.g. communications, joint marketing, book sales). Readers can order free of charge a brochure from the centre on the latest plain-language books or obtain information on state support for publishing plain-language books.

Support and grants are annually allocated for the publication of plain-language literature. At the beginning of 2004 the Finnish Ministry of Education assigned the Plain Language Centre at FAIDD the right to distribute the state support for plain-language literature. The Advisory Committee operating in conjunction with the Plain Language Centre distributes subsidies and grants to publishers, writers, adapters and illustrators of plain-language books.

Informative material on various topics

The Plain Language Centre publishes a wide range of informative material annually. Plain language booklets have been published collaboratively with different partners on laws, elections, traffic and fire safety, managing finances, and other issues.

Education and text editing

The Plain Language Centre takes part in the planning and implementation of plain-language education. Courses to the effect are organised every year and the Plain Language Centre also sources trainers for different events. The centre promotes research on plain language and provides practical support for the writing and editing of plain language texts. It also provides services for businesses.

The Plain Language Centre engages in cooperation to promote plain language both domestically and in a wider European context. The centre is supported by the Advisory Committee on Plain Language with representatives from nearly 30 communities in the field. The Advisory Committee follows closely development in the field and especially endeavours to promote the provision of plain language information.

Contact information

FAIDD / Plain Language Centre
Viljatie 4 A, FI-00700 Helsinki, Finland
tel. +358 9 3480 9240
telefax +358 9 3853 398
selkokeskus(at)kvl.fi

Updated January 18, 2012.