Linguagem simples na comunicação pública: uma análise de conteúdo no caso do Laboratório de Inovação e Dados do Governo do Estado do Ceará (ÍRIS)

Abstract

The use of Plain Language (PL) in public communication seeks to make information easier to find, understand, and use. This practice aims to enhance the efficiency of interactions between the government and society by promoting access to information. This study aims to examine two public notices issued by the Government of the State of Ceará, each in its original version (specialized language) and in a version adapted to PL, the latter produced in partnership with the Íris Laboratory. The methodology employed was Content Analysis (CA), with variables and categories developed based on experimental studies, in response to gaps identified through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the topic. Two public calls issued by the Government of the State of Ceará were analyzed, each in its original version (specialized administrative language) and in its Plain Language adaptation, both produced in partnership with the Íris Laboratory. The results reveal statistically significant changes in the texts, albeit ambiguous, particularly concerning indicators of textual intelligibility, such as verbalization and nominalization. These ambiguities suggest that, although the use of PL techniques led to perceptible improvements in the presentation and organization of the content, the increase in textual intelligibility was not unequivocal. A plausible hypothesis is that the administrative nature of the original texts influenced the outcomes, indicating the need for further experimental studies to deepen the understanding