We are passionate about clear communication, research and exceptional quality.
Our two complementing companies offer you these.
We are passionate about clear communication, research and exceptional quality.
Our two complementing companies offer you these.
BHI32 is an experienced communication design and research consultancy. Our expertise lies in the development field and the water sector.
Services:
- Communication strategies
- Project performance assessments
- Stakeholder engagement
- Technical writing, and
- Quantitative and qualitative research.
Through our work in the public sector, we learned how ordinary South Africans make sense of complex information. The Plain Language Institute CC was founded in 2009 to build on this experience.
Meet some of our clients
The Plain Language Institute helps companies to design communication that is clear, relevant, and useful.
The ISO Standard for Plain Language (ISO 24495-1:2023) drives our approach.
In doing this, we focus on the needs of the customer. We help you to design communication across the customer journey. That includes contractual and marketing communication like policy wordings and schedules, online forms, letters, web pages, and brochures.
Meet some of our clients
BHI32 is an experienced communication design and research consultancy. Our expertise lies in the development field and the water sector.
Services:
- Communication strategies
- Project performance assessments
- Stakeholder engagement
- Technical writing, and
- Quantitative and qualitative research.
Through our work in the public sector, we learned how ordinary South Africans make sense of complex information. The Plain Language Institute CC was founded in 2009 to build on this experience.
Meet some of our clients
The Plain Language Institute helps companies to design communication that is clear, relevant, and useful.
The ISO Standard for Plain Language (ISO 24495-1:2023) drives our approach.
In doing this, we focus on the needs of the customer. We help you to design and test communication across the customer journey. That includes contractual and marketing communication like policy wordings and schedules, online forms, letters, web pages, and brochures.
Meet some of our clients
Cognitive Action Research
Most major policy and strategic business decisions rely on data that surveys collect. Unfortunately, the gap between the world of the researcher and that of the respondent is often so large that respondents don’t understand research questions as intended and give inappropriate answers. Inappropriate answering is a risk for the data integrity of surveys. And, of course, also for informed decision-making.
We’ve partnered with Iske van den Berg from CRC to develop a methodology to address inappropriate answering, called Cognitive Action Research (CAR). CAR combines the fields of action research, cognitive interviewing and Plain Language.
We’ve applied CAR in surveys in South Africa, the UK, Rwanda, and Kenya. However, CAR has a much wider application than surveys. We’ve used CAR successfully to test concepts for MultiChoice, and test a self-assessment tool of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Exciting developments
South Africa has adopted the ISO Standard for Plain Language
On 2 February 2024, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) adopted the ISO Standard for Plain Language (ISO 24495-1). The Standard provides useful guidance for the implementation of Plain Language in our country.
We are members of the South African delegation on the ISO technical committee (TC 37). We lead the SABS mirror committee responsible for implementing the adopted Standard in South Africa.
We have two new online courses focusing on how to use the Standard in an organisation:
• How to achieve the Plain Language user experience. Read more here
• The ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make it work for organizations. Read more here
NEW online course:
The ISO plain language standard – making it work for organizations
Guided by experts, participants will learn about the tools, processes, and best practices needed to successfully implement the ISO Plain Language Standard in their organizations. Click here for the details.
Advanced online course:
Implementing Plain Language as a strategic priority
This course will empower you to make your organisation truly customer- or citizen-centred. Click here for the details.
PLAIN’s Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award
The Plain Language Academies recently received the Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award for their ground-breaking contribution to the field of Plain Language. The Plain Language Institute is proud to be part of the team at PlainLanguageAcademies.com.
Cognitive Action Research
Most major policy and strategic business decisions rely on data that surveys collect. Unfortunately, the gap between the world of the researcher and that of the respondent is often so large that respondents don’t understand research questions as intended and give inappropriate answers. Inappropriate answering is a risk for the data integrity of surveys. And, of course, also for informed decision-making.
We’ve partnered with Iske van den Berg from CRC to develop a methodology to address inappropriate answering, called Cognitive Action Research (CAR). CAR combines the fields of action research, cognitive interviewing and Plain Language.
Blog
Online course: How to achieve the Plain Language user experience
Overview CPD pre-approved course by the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA).Certificate of completion – 18 CPD pointsCategory: Marketing and non-marketing topicsLevel: AMSA & MPSAMaximum 20 students per course Duration: 12 weeks to complete, requiring on...
Online course: The ISO Plain Language Standard — How to make it work for organizations
ONLINE COURSEThe ISO plain language standard – making it work for organizationsStarting March 2026 English, French (USD) $400; PLAIN members: $320 8 weeksGuided by experts, participants will learn about the tools, processes, and best practices needed to...
International Plain Language Day 2023 with PEG
This article was originally published in the newsletter of the Professional Editors’ Guild, PEGboard (December 2023). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the first international Standard for Plain Language* in June 2023. On International...
Exciting developments
South Africa has adopted the ISO Standard for Plain Language
On 2 February 2024, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) adopted the ISO Standard for Plain Language (ISO 24495-1). The Standard provides useful guidance for the implementation of Plain Language in our country.
We are members of the South African delegation on the ISO technical committee (TC 37). We lead the SABS mirror committee responsible for implementing the adopted Standard in South Africa.
We have two new online courses focusing on how to use the Standard in an organisation:
• How to achieve the Plain Language user experience. Read more here
• The ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make it work for organizations. Read more here
NEW online course:
The ISO plain language standard – making it work for organizations
Guided by experts, participants will learn about the tools, processes, and best practices needed to successfully implement the ISO Plain Language Standard in their organizations. Click here for the details.
Advanced online course:
Implementing Plain Language as a strategic priority
This course will empower you to make your organisation truly customer- or citizen-centred. Click here for the details.
PLAIN’s Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award
The Plain Language Academies recently received the Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award for their ground-breaking contribution to the field of Plain Language. The Plain Language Institute is proud to be part of the team at PlainLanguageAcademies.com.
Keep me updated
Blog
Online course: How to achieve the Plain Language user experience
Overview CPD pre-approved course by the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA).Certificate of completion – 18 CPD pointsCategory: Marketing and non-marketing topicsLevel: AMSA & MPSAMaximum 20 students per course Duration: 12 weeks to complete, requiring on...
Online course: The ISO Plain Language Standard — How to make it work for organizations
ONLINE COURSEThe ISO plain language standard – making it work for organizationsStarting March 2026 English, French (USD) $400; PLAIN members: $320 8 weeksGuided by experts, participants will learn about the tools, processes, and best practices needed to...
International Plain Language Day 2023 with PEG
This article was originally published in the newsletter of the Professional Editors’ Guild, PEGboard (December 2023). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the first international Standard for Plain Language* in June 2023. On International...