Introduction: Back to Basics

This monographic volume is dedicated to the notion of simplicity, simplification and related notions therein. The first section considers simplification from a translational perspective: if translation is, by its very nature, aimed at tearing down linguistic and cultural barriers, text simplification can be either a problem to overcome or a goal to achieve. The second section is dedicated to inclusivity and considers the readers not as ideal and abstract entities but as groups of individuals with specific needs. The third section deals with simplification in professional writing and the teaching of writing skills. The fourth section focuses on the language of medicine and healthcare, where imprecise, inexact or non-reader-friendly communication can have dramatic outcomes.