At IncluDE, we make sure to create an “Easy/Plain Japanese” version when producing handouts and training videos (for all faculty and staff members).
For example, we create three versions of the IncluDE pamphlet: Japanese, Easy/Plain Japanese, and English (available for download as PDFs from the “Archive” page), along with text data for each version. When creating the Easy/Plain Japanese version, we keep the following points in mind:
・Avoid rephrasing everything; instead, clearly summarize key points
・Avoid using kanji or loanwords directly; rephrase them whenever possible, and add furigana(how to read kanji) to any remaining kanji
・Keep information from becoming overwhelming; ensure it’s clear where to focus your attention
Creating the “Easy/Plain Japanese” version deepens our own understanding as creators. It also encourages us to pay more attention to clarity in the standard Japanese version, making it a significant learning experience for us. We aim to update it to be even more “easy and kind” while incorporating feedback from various people.
