Lodewijk van Noort

Plain language: who’s the real expert?

Plain language is important. More and more people don’t fully understand texts from organizations and businesses. Why is that? And why are texts from governments, legal, and healthcare institutions often so complex? Plain language experts around the world have been pondering these questions for years. Fortunately, there are solutions. In fact, this year even saw the birth of an international ISO standard for clear language.

How can you ensure that you communicate in an understandable way, and what is needed to make businesses, governments, and social organizations aware of this? Plain language experts are needed for this. But do we really know them well enough? Lodewijk van Noort of the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) provides answers and discusses the role that translators and interpreters can play in this.

BIOGRAPHY

Lodewijk van Noort (The Netherlands and Italy) is a prominent advocate for clear and accessible communication. With a robust background in plain language, he’s made a significant impact in various sectors, including his work with the Dutch Reading & Writing Foundation and as a strategic advisor for the Dutch Municipality of The Hague.

Recognized as the Dutch Ambassador of Clear Language for the Government in 2017, he later led the Dutch Plain Language Campaign (“Direct Duidelijk”) at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was a finalist in the Dutch Communication Person 2020 election. As of 2021, he’s a board member of the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN), continuing his influential work in advancing clear communication.

More info: www.linkedin.com/in/lodewijkvannoort