Cultural implications in Easy Language texts for migrants. Theoretical considerations and insights from practice in Germany and in Italy

In this paper, we will discuss migrants with low second language skills as a target group of Easy Language. For this user group, the comprehension of texts normally used in the host society is made arduous not only due to the language barrier, but also because of the cultural barrier, which can heavily affect the interpretation of a text even in Easy Language. We will also propose the media barrier as a communication barrier that needs consideration when adapting a text to this target group. The aim of this article is to reflect on the effective intercultural communication through Easy Language and on the cultural biases that could arise during the evaluation phase. The latter should be advised by cultural mediators or interpreters.