Plain language movement in Estonia aims to make information accessible to all

The Estonian Language Institute is promoting 'arekeel' — a simplified form of written Estonian — to help more people access information and participate in society. The initiative targets those who struggle with complex texts, including people with cognitive disabilities, language learners, and the elderly. Project lead Kärt Roomäe highlights its role in education, employment, and digital services.

A growing initiative in Estonia is pushing for wider use of simplified, plain-language texts — known in Estonian as 'arekeel' — as a tool for greater social inclusion. Kärt Roomäe, the Estonian Language Institute's (EKI) project lead for linguistic accessibility, argues that creating and using simplified texts is essential for ensuring that information reaches as many people as possible.

Arekeel, or simplified Estonian, is not about dumbing down content — it is about restructuring language to make it genuinely understandable for people who find standard written texts difficult to process. This includes individuals with cognitive or learning disabilities, non-native speakers, the elderly, and others who may be excluded from full social participation due to language barriers.

Why accessibility matters

According to Roomäe, access to information plays a critical role in how people engage with education and the labour market. When official communications, workplace documents, or public service announcements are written in overly complex language, a significant portion of the population is effectively shut out from opportunities that others take for granted.

The accessibility of digital services is another key concern raised by the initiative. As Estonia continues to expand its e-government offerings, ensuring that digital platforms can be navigated by all residents — regardless of their reading level or language background — becomes increasingly important. Plain-language principles, if applied to digital interfaces and service descriptions, could dramatically widen participation.

EKI's broader mission

The Estonian Language Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to modernise and democratise the use of Estonian. The linguistic accessibility project represents a shift in focus from purely prescriptive language norms toward practical communication outcomes — asking not just whether language is correct, but whether it actually works for the people who need to use it.