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
- Impact assessments
- Technical writing
- Editing and publishing, 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.
In doing this, we focus on the needs of the customer. We help you to design communication for the full customer journey. That includes documents like policy wordings and schedules, forms, bills and contracts. We also test documents to make sure they are clear and usable for customers.
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
- Impact assessments
- Technical writing
- Editing and publishing, 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.
In doing this, we focus on the needs of the customer. We help you to design communication for the full customer journey. That includes documents like policy wordings and schedules, forms, bills and contracts. We also test documents to make sure they are clear and usable for customers.
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 a self-assessment tool of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Exciting developments
ISO standard for Plain Language
As you might know, several South African laws and regulations require that consumer communication must be in clear and understandable language. It is also an outcome of Treating Customer Fairly (TCF).
The International Plain Language Federation (IPLF) is developing an ISO standard for Plain Language. The standard, once adopted, will provide useful guidance for the implementation of Plain Language in consumer communication.
The SABS has appointed us (Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green) to represent South Africa on the ISO technical committee. Part 1 of the Draft standard will be discussed on 24 June 2020. Watch this space for updates on the progress.
How do insurance companies implement Plain Language?
In February 2020, Nadja Green started with a series of feedback sessions on the findings of her Master’s study. The study investigated how insurance companies implement Plain Language. Based on these results, she developed an implementing framework for Plain Language.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology we are still continuing with the feedback sessions during the national lockdown. Contact us if you want to hear more about the findings.
Dealing with COVID-19 without running water at home
What should people without running water in their homes do to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Click below for the fact sheet and infographic on this topic that we developed with the Water Research Commission.
Keep me updated
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 a self-assessment tool of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Blog
COVID-19: lessons for the insurance industry
On 24 June 2020, Moneyweb reported that most short-term insurance companies are refusing to pay out business interruption claims to tourism and hospitality businesses impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A customer landscape that is not plain
South Africa is a multilingual, multicultural country with people from all socioeconomic groups. For this reason, the guidelines for plain English do not necessarily apply as local research has found.
Plain Language in Afrikaans – wat dink jy?
Hier is ‘n paar vertalings van die internasionale definisie:
Geskrewe kommunikasie is duidelik (in ‘’plain language’’) wanneer die teikengehoor die inligting wat hulle nodig het, maklik kan kry, verstaan en gebruik.
Exciting developments
ISO standard for Plain Language
As you might know, several South African laws and regulations require that consumer communication must be in clear and understandable language. It is also an outcome of Treating Customer Fairly (TCF).
The International Plain Language Federation (IPLF) is developing an ISO standard for Plain Language. The standard, once adopted, will provide useful guidance for the implementation of Plain Language in consumer communication.
The SABS has appointed us (Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green) to represent South Africa on the ISO technical committee. Part 1 of the Draft standard will be discussed on 24 June 2020. Watch this space for updates on the progress.
How do insurance companies implement Plain Language?
In February 2020, Nadja Green started with a series of feedback sessions on the findings of her Master’s study. The study investigated how insurance companies implement Plain Language. Based on these results, she developed an implementing framework for Plain Language.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology we are still continuing with the feedback sessions during the national lockdown. Contact us if you want to hear more about the findings.
Dealing with COVID-19 without running water at home
What should people without running water in their homes do to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Click below for the fact sheet and infographic on this topic that we developed with the Water Research Commission.
Keep me updated
Blog
COVID-19: lessons for the insurance industry
On 24 June 2020, Moneyweb reported that most short-term insurance companies are refusing to pay out business interruption claims to tourism and hospitality businesses impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A customer landscape that is not plain
South Africa is a multilingual, multicultural country with people from all socioeconomic groups. For this reason, the guidelines for plain English do not necessarily apply as local research has found.
Plain Language in Afrikaans – wat dink jy?
Hier is ‘n paar vertalings van die internasionale definisie:
Geskrewe kommunikasie is duidelik (in ‘’plain language’’) wanneer die teikengehoor die inligting wat hulle nodig het, maklik kan kry, verstaan en gebruik.