FROM PLAIN LANGUAGE TO CLEAR COMMUNICATION: INTRODUCTION TO THE MONOGRAPHIC SECTION

In the 1980s, Catalan administrative and legal language experienced a process of modernisation inspired by plain language principles. The Journal of Language and Law (RLD) played a key role in this as an academic space that promoted - especially from language sciences- reflection and analysis on how to rigorously carry out the process. Forty years later, plain language has evolved into clear communication, a distinctly interdisciplinary field, which provides new solutions for plain communication between public administrations and citizens. With the aim of ensuring these new developments reach administrations in Catalan-speaking regions, the RLD is publishing this monographic section, which contains the latest research conducted in the field and a series of experiences that can be extrapolated to various administrations. This introduction describes key concepts such as plain language and clear communication. We explain how the international plain language movement affected us and developed into clear communication, and we briefly consider the initiatives being carried out in the Catalan-speaking and Spanish-speaking public sphere.