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What are the key syntactic features defined by Leichte Sprache for simplified German visualisation

What are the key syntactic features defined by Leichte Sprache for simplified German

Comprehensive Guide to C1-Level German Vocabulary: What are the key syntactic features defined by Leichte Sprache for simplified German
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The key syntactic features defined by Leichte Sprache (LS) for simplified German include the use of simplified syntactic constructions that reduce complexity and facilitate comprehension for people with cognitive impairments, learning difficulties, or low literacy. These features typically involve:

  • Short sentences and simple sentence structures, avoiding complex clauses and long, nested syntactic constructions.
  • Favoring coordinate sentences over subordinate clauses to keep ideas distinct and easier to process.
  • Minimizing the use of passive voice and complex verb forms.
  • The syntactic rules are designed to reduce grammatical complexity while maintaining grammaticality and coherence.
  • The vocabulary is also kept very small and basic to support the simplified syntax.
  • Constructions are systematically evaluated for ease of comprehension by LS users, and some extensions to the basic LS constructions are researched to broaden its scope (Extended Leichte Sprache or ELS).
  • The goal is to ensure clarity, directness, and barrier-free communication by abiding by strict syntactic and lexicological rules specific to LS. 3, 5

Thus, Leichte Sprache syntactically prioritizes clear, straightforward sentence constructions, using simple grammar rules to enhance accessibility and readability for its target audience.

This simplification is also distinct from other forms such as “Einfache Sprache” which is somewhat broader and less strictly regulated, while LS follows explicit syntactic and typological rules aimed at inclusion. 5

References

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