Vereinigung für Angewandte Linguistik in der Schweiz
Doi
Abstract
This contribution addresses obstacles to comprehensibility of specialized vocabulary within informed consent information for laypeople and digital means of overcoming those obstacles. In specific, it is shown that basic concepts of research in information texts represent particular obstacles to comprehensibility. These basic concepts are highly frequent in information texts regarding participation in human research, and a lack of prior knowledge about these concepts can hardly be established textually. As a solution, this contribution focuses on a rarely considered part of expert-layperson communication: the layperson’s use of specialized vocabulary. The layperson's use of specialized vocabulary is introduced as a distinct variable and compared to the expert's use. An analysis of interactions in internet forums shows that laypeople have their own practices in using specialized vocabulary. To make information texts more comprehensible, we argue for replacing expert specialized vocabulary in favor of those variables that are closer to laypersons' everyday life. Finally, we present a digital dictionary of specialized variables that aims to show both expert and layperson variables of specialized vocabulary and to make them productive for information practice
