CUNEF Universidad and the Royal Spanish Academy sign a collaboration agreement to promote plain language through shared study, teaching and research

The Rector of CUNEF Universidad, Ana I. Fernández, and the Director of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE, for its acronym in Spanish) and Chair of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (ASALE, also for its acronym in Spanish), Santiago Muñoz Machado, signed a collaboration agreement whereby both institutions will work together to study, teach and research plain language. The purpose of this agreement, signed at the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Academy, is to protect citizens’ right to understand information that affects them, especially on legal, financial, administrative and academic issues.  

This alliance establishes the framework within which both institutions will jointly organise plain language teaching initiatives and conduct shared studies, projects, research and other activities. CUNEF Universidad intends to be at the forefront of legal reflection on this issue, with special emphasis on citizens’ right to plain language, and on the need for clear and understandable economic and financial contracts.  

CUNEF Universidad’s took its first step by joining the Pan-Hispanic Clear and Accessible Language Network, which already has more than 550 members and aims to mainstream initiatives to defend people’s fundamental right to understand laws regulating social coexistence, as well as all forms of communication aimed at citizens. 

In their speeches during the event, both signatories insisted on the need to promote practical plain language initiatives with a clear educational purpose, to bolster institutional impact and encourage more accessible communication.

Pan-Hispanic Clear and Accessible Language Network

The Pan-Hispanic Clear and Accessible Language Network, promoted and led by the RAE, was founded in 2022 with two essential objectives: to foster clear and direct language as a pillar of democratic and citizenship values, and to promote a commitment from the authorities to ensure it in all areas of public life. The members of the Pan-Hispanic Clear and Accessible Language Network undertake to: 

• Recognize people’s fundamental right to understand. 
• Work together to promote clear and direct language in public and private communication. 
• Contribute to the consolidation of the Pan-Hispanic Clear Language Network and encourage national, international and supranational public and private organisations to become members. 
• Use clear and direct language in their institutions’ written or audiovisual documents and initiatives. 
• Promote the use of clear and direct language in their own institutions and in all those with which they interact. 
• Designate a plain language delegate who will represent their institution and coordinate and monitor Network activities. Once this person is appointed, their contact details must be sent to the Network Coordination Secretariat. 
• Maintain fluid communication and exchange information as necessary to fulfil the commitments detailed above. 

Image of the news item provided by the Royal Spanish Academy.