Easy-to-read and multilingual readers

28/11/202528/11/2025 LangueFlowWorkshop

Easy-to-read (E2R) books contain easily understandable language, illustrations and design. Easy Language is a simplified form of Standard Language, that is the language used in everyday life, education, mass media, etc.

Today an increasing number of readers of E2R literature are multilingual or new language learners. This development challenges producers and teachers to explore further the possibilities of E2R, which in many countries is perceived only as a support for readers with reading difficulties.

The E2R author, editor, designer and publisher Sabira Ståhlberg, and illustrator, pedagogue and education planner Maria Viitasalo have created more than 25 E2R books for the past 25 years. In 2015, they founded the project Bokpil with some 60 collaborators on two continents.

Bokpil is a pioneer in introducing E2R literature to multicultural readers, minority and endangered languages, and in creating new Easy Languages for languages where E2R is previously unknown.

Together with translator and researcher Dorijan Hajdu, Sabira and Maria discuss E2R and multilingual questions, including:

How are E2R texts and images created for multilingual and multicultural readers?
How can E2R books support language learning?
How is E2R literature translated into other languages?
How are new Easy Languages created?
How can E2R literature support minority and endangered languages?

Join us for two inspiring events:

I. Theory: Thursday 15 January 2026

9:00-10:00 CET (Berlin, Rome, Paris, Budapest, Stockholm)
10:00-11:00 EET (Helsingfors / Helsinki, Vilnius)
16:00-17:00 SGP (Singapore)

II. Practice: Monday 26 January 2026

12:00 CET (Berlin, Rome, Paris, Budapest, Stockholm)
13:00 EET (Helsingfors / Helsinki, Vilnius)
19:00 SGP (Singapore)

Please sign up for the web link at zerocodeswitching // at // pm.me before 12 January 2026. Students are welcome.

Organisers: LangueFlow, Bokpil, Universität Bielefeld, MMA MMKI (Budapest)