The difficulty levels of Easy Finnish - evaluating texts using the Finnish Easy Language Meter
Keywords:
difficulty levels of Easy Finnish, Easy Finnish, Easy-to-Read, EtR-Meter, Evaluation of Easy-to-ReadAbstract
The need for easy language has increased in recent years. A need has simultaneously emerged to more precisely define the difficulty level of Easy Finnish and how it differs from other language forms. How easy or difficult is it for different readers and in different texts? And is it possible to evaluate whether or not a text is in Easy Finnish? This article reflects on the ways in which the difficulty levels of Easy Finnish could be defined. Easy language materials have always been produced at many levels in Finland, but these levels have never been defined. Thus, the users of the materials have been unsure whether or not certain materials are suitable for them. In practice, materials are needed at many difficulty levels, as some users have severe linguistic problems and reading barriers whereas others have only minor disadvantages. This article outlines preliminary criteria for three difficulty levels: Simple, Basic and Advanced Easy Finnish. As the need for Easy Finnish continues to grow, experts and researchers need more evaluation instruments. The Finnish Centre for Easy Language has recently developed The Finnish Easy Language Meter, which aims to evaluate whether or not the level of a text is Basic Easy Finnish. The Meter is, so far, the most accurate collection of textual, lexical and structural criteria of Easy Finnish texts. However, is it a reliable instrument for evaluating an easy text? This article discusses this issue in the light of the Meter’s testing process experiences and iteration results.
