LanguageLine Solutions® added a “new language” to the more than 240 we already offer our clients. The language is English, with a twist. It’s Plain English and it helps you communicate in terms that your reader will readily understand. The benefits include streamlined documents, higher customer satisfaction, lower costs, compliance with regulations, and communications that are better structured for clear translation outcomes.
Example:
- Before:
Your current dividend of $288.55 has purchased paid-up additional insurance in the face amount of $1,249.57. Your total paid-up additional insurance is $2,749.57. - After:
We have bought more life insurance with your dividend: $1,249.57 since your last bill and $2,749.57 since you opened your account.
This example reflects an actual bill that was sent to thousands of clients across the U.S. Sure, it’s in English but what kind of English? The 23 original words would confuse the most fluent native speaker. Written in a more concise, easier-to-understand format through our product, LanguageLine Clarity℠, the revised information has only two fewer words. But they are straight-forward, real words, not acronyms or jargon, and they pack 100% more meaning for the life insurance customer receiving their bill.
With Clarity, specialized writers translate jargon-laden text into Plain English, through the simplification process. It’s not as effortless as it sounds. First, verbal clutter is removed from the source text; next, core content is identified and restructured from the users’ point of view; and finally, plain, commonly-used-words are substituted for jargon. The resulting documents are clear and meaningful to intended audiences.
In addition to being clearer, simplified documents are also typically much shorter than the source materials on which they’re based. Simplified through Clarity, they typically have 20-30% fewer words. Fewer words mean significantly lower translation costs and efficiencies in printing, development, mailing, storage, and fulfillment.
There’s an additional bonus with Clarity-treated text. It is easier to translate into other languages. LanguageLine’s translators are well-qualified and trained, equipped to provide the most faithful translation of our clients’ source material. But if the source material is poorly organized or written, rife with acronyms and jargon, or overwhelmed with irrelevant detail, complexity rather than clarity is translated and published. By contrast, Clarity offers just what it says — clear, effective communication in every language.
About LanguageLine
LanguageLine has been the world leader in innovative language-access solutions since 1982. The company sets the global standard for phone, video, and onsite interpreting, as well as translation of the written word. LanguageLine is trusted by more than 30,000 clients to enable communication with the limited English proficient, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing communities. LanguageLine provides the industry’s fastest and most dependable access to more than 35,000 professional linguists in 290-plus languages — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Please do not hesitate to contact us.