The seminar for Plain Language Day was held on October 11th, as the day itself fell on the following Saturday. The Plain Language Award was presented during the seminar.
Keynote speakers Sissel Motzfeldt and Ragnhild Samuelsberg came from Norway. Their clarification project in the public sector was based on a study showing that 1.3 million Norwegians consider administrative documents too difficult. Another study showed that 90 percent of civil servants think that they write in understandable language. Motzfeldt and Samuelsberg state that administrative documents are based on legal language; thus, efforts to clarify must start with those laws and regulations. They tried new methods like conducting plain language workshops for lawyers. They also engaged in user testing, where laymen provided feedback on the understandability of legal documents. According to the keynote speakers, the commitment of lawyers and politicians was particularly important. They are key actors in promoting plain language.
And the winner of the Plain Language Award? Kela Tips from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. This resource provides information on social security benefits, shared in plain language through social media.