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This is Unit 2, Easy to Understand language.

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Element 2. Legislation, standards
and guidelines:

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Introduction to the situation in Spain:

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overview, recommendations, guidelines (part 1).

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My name is Piero Cavallo
and I have prepared this video lecture

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in collaboration with Rocío Bernabé
on behalf of the Internationale Hochschule

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SDI München in Germany.

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This video lecture introduces the situation
of Easy-to-Understand language in Spain.

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After a brief introduction about
the linguistic situation in Spain,

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we will discuss about
the process that led to

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Easy-to-Understand language in Spain,

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from the early stage
to the current period.

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Then, we will give an overview
on the international legislation,

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also valid in Spain,

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that regulates the equal rights
for persons with disabilities.

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In Spain, easy-to-understand language
incorporates two main concepts,

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or simplification approaches.

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The first one is “Lenguaje Claro,
o Lenguaje Llano”, in short “L.C.”.

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That is “clear, or Plain Language”
in English.

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The second concept is referred to
as “Lectura Fácil”, in short “L.F.”.

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That is “Easy-to-Read” in English.

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Both concepts represent a way
to adapt a text in a clear, simple

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and efficient way, in order to make it
more comprehensible for everyone.

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Both concepts take into consideration
linguistic, paratextual features,

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as well as visual aspects of a text.

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As in other European countries,
such as Germany,

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Easy-to-Read or “Lectura Fácil” follows
a well-defined set of rules

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for implementation
while Plain Language is less regulated.

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So, it’s up to the creator of the text,

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to adapt it to the target group
and the situation.

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Since there is not an official distinction
in Spain’s legislation between

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“Lenguaje Claro” and “Lectura Fácil”,
as we will see,

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 we will refer to both as
"Easy-to-Understand",

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or E2U, in short, in this video lecture.

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It is useful to analyse the historical,
political and social situation of Spain

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in the last centuries.

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As you know, in Spain, Spanish (or Castilian)
is the most widely spoken language

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in the country.

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Yet, it is not the only one.

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In fact, although
the Spanish Constitution states

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that Castilian is the official language
of the State,

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and that all Spanish people have
the obligation to know it

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and the right to use it,
Spain recognises four other languages.

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These languages have a co-official status,
in their respective autonomous communities.

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The languages are,
in order of number of speakers:

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Catalan (known in the Valencian Community
as Valencian

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and in the Balearic Islands as Balearic);

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Galician;

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Basque;

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and Aranese/Occitan.

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Considered that, I will talk about
the situation in Spain, in general,

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and in Castilian (or Spanish) language,
in particular.

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That means I will focus
on the efforts made by Spain,

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seen as a single political entity,
on the E2U language.

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In other words, I will not focus

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on some certain Autonomous Communities
that make up Spain.

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The pompous old-fashioned style
of the language in Spain

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have legal and socio-cultural roots.

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In fact, from 1881 to 1985
it was required by the law

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that every legal or judicial fact
was introduced by the gerund form.

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The gerund is a nonfinite verb form,
equivalent to the -ing form, in English.

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This resulted in long sentences,
full of subordinated clauses.

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This style influenced all administrative
and legal writing,

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as well as writing in general.

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During the dictatorship
of Francisco Franco,

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from 1939 to 1975,

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the writing style of
the Public Administration was obscure

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and not comprehensible at all.

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During the Francoist dictatorship,
all languages,

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except Spanish, had been banned.

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Also, when interfacing with
the Public Administration,

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expressions like “muy señor mío”
(“my very Lord”) were largely used,

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even if they did not reflect
the spoken language.

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With the end of the dictatorship
and the Spanish transition to democracy,

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it also arose the need
to renew the language.

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Spanish institutions began
to adapt their language

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to the needs of a modern democratic society,

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in order to present the rights and
duties of citizens more clearly.

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All the languages spoken in Spain had to deal
with a writing tradition

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consolidated over decades
and the stagnation of people’s attitude

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toward a more complex written form.

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The first works in a more democratic
and clear language were published

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during this period,

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especially by autonomous governments
and local administrations.

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Starting from the last 30 years or so,

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awareness of the need
for a linguistic renewal in all aspects

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has become ever greater,
in particular from the normalization

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of the co-official languages
spoken in Spain.

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Recommendations initially made
especially for English were remodelled

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to be more suitable
for the languages of Spain.

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Even if there is no specific legislation
for Easy-to-Understand language in Spain,

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there are some national
and international laws

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which aim to make language
and culture

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more accessible and democratic
for everyone.

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In Spain, laws promulgated
by international bodies

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such as the UN are valid.

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For example, the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights,

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where in article 22 is stated that:

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“Everyone […] has the right to […] realization”,

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and in article 27 that:

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“Everyone has the right to participate
in the cultural life of the community,

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to enjoy the arts and to share in
scientific advancement and its benefits”.

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Other laws also valid in Spain
are those issued after

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the Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities

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and the Standard Rules on
the Equalization of Opportunities

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for Persons with Disabilities.

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This video lecture has been prepared
by Piero Cavallo

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and Rocío Bernabé Caro

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from the Internationale Hochschule
SDI München in Germany.

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You can reach Rocío Bernabé at

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rocio.bernabe@sdi-muenchen.de