Minas Gerais Agency | Government of Minas strengthens the use of simple language

Information available in a clear and objective way. This is what the Linguagem Simples project seeks, from the Government Innovation Laboratory (LAB.mg), a partnership between the State Department of Planning and Management (Seplag-MG) and the João Pinheiro Foundation (FJP). A joint resolution published this Friday (26/4) guides the application of simple language and visual law in official State communications and documents.

Joint Resolution Seplag/FJP/AGE/Secom No. 10,922/2024 was signed by the four institutions on Wednesday (24/4). The objective is to ensure that communication from the Government of Minas is transparent, useful, accessible and understandable. The methodology seeks to facilitate communication within the Government and with people who use public services, encouraging public administration activities to be even more focused on citizens.

“This collaboration between the bodies is essential for us to create simple language and bring the Government closer to the citizen. The Government needs to communicate well, speak the same language as the people, so that they understand the work that is being carried out. It is with this joint work that we intend to change the face of administration and have, in Minas Gerais, a Government that communicates more directly with people”, says the Secretary of State for Planning and Management, Luísa Barreto.

What is the resolution about?

The resolution was the first to be published in visual format in the Official Gazette. The proposal is that government documents be written in more accessible language, including, when possible, visual elements to facilitate understanding.

The document brings some responsibilities to the signing bodies, according to their actions. LAB.mg will continue to promote and encourage the use of Simple Language by the State, through training and events on good practices and the use of the method. The laboratory is also responsible for reviewing and updating methodology guidelines.

The State Secretariat for Communication (Secom-MG) will be responsible for disseminating and guiding the State Communication Offices on the application of simple language. The State Attorney General’s Office (AGE-MG) will have the task of encouraging Legal Advisors, Attorney’s Offices and related units to use simple language and visual law in their productions.

“Communication that is efficient has to be simple because, to communicate well, it has to speak to everyone. If we don’t speak simple language, people won’t be interested in knowing about the government”, says Secretary of State for Communication, Bernardo Santos. “It is surprising to see a government that has this concern because governments have a tendency to distance themselves from people due to bureaucracy and complexity.”

What is Simple Language?

It is a set of good practices for writing and writing, which covers elements of grammar and text organization. The Simple Language movement began in the 1940s, in England and the United States, with the purpose of facilitating the population’s access to the State and public services.

In Minas Gerais, LAB.mg has been a protagonist in debates and dissemination of the topic since its creation in 2019. Simple Language also includes some reflections and guidelines for writing and/or revising a text.

And it doesn’t mean that you should use informal or colloquial language. Respect for the Portuguese language is maintained in Simple Language. The intention is to use simpler words to convey the message as clearly as possible.

According to the State’s attorney general, Sérgio Pessoa, applying simple language will be a challenge in the legal environment, but, at the same time, a great opportunity for change.

“In our perception, the State of Minas Gerais is being avant-garde in bringing together such different areas with the aim of making understanding technical topics more accessible to people. Simple language does not mean informality, it means being direct in the way you convey your ideas to the interlocutor”, he highlights.

At FJP, according to president Luciana Lopes Nominato Braga, the methodology is gradually being incorporated into the work. “The resolution gives us a lot of support. We are undergoing a restructuring of the website and this will also be done with simple language, so that it is very clear what products we offer. It’s a start and the collaboration of all these institutions will be essential for us to move forward,” he says.