Non-verbal strategies, adequate settings and empathy as the real promoters of Spoken Easy Language in asymmetric communication

The project SELSI (Spoken Easy Language for Social Inclusion), launched in 2022, focuses on simplifying language in oral contexts. Its objective is to develop adaptable recommendations for professionals to produce comprehensible content for co-participants requiring linguistic support. This paper presents findings from a SELSI survey assessing the needs and preferences of speakers across proficiency levels in oral contexts. The results highlight the necessity of non-linguistic elements in effective oral communication, including factors like a quiet setting, empathetic environments, a close rapport between interlocutors, and the strategic use of repetition to elicit of accurate comprehension judgements.