A readability index benchmark for Italian Plain and Easy Language texts

Ensuring the readability of texts is crucial for effective communication, particularly in public and institutional contexts. In Italy, the lack of standardized readability benchmarks for Plain and Easy Language complicates efforts to improve text accessibility. This study establishes empirical readability benchmarks for Italian texts by analyzing two distinct corpora: one of Plain Language texts and another of Easy Language texts. The research employs the Gulpease index, the primary readability measure for Italian, to assess text complexity and define reference values for both language varieties. The findings reveal that Easy Language texts achieve significantly higher readability scores than Plain Language texts, as expected, although they exhibit considerable variability due to interpretable guidelines and diverse user needs. By contrast, Plain Language texts maintain lower but more consistent readability scores. The study proposes ideal readability thresholds based on sentence length and word complexity to enhance text standardization and accessibility. The results contribute to establishing practical readability benchmarks for Italian and highlight the necessity of refining readability guidelines to improve public communication. Future work should focus on integrating user feedback and machine learning models to enhance the precision of readability assessment tools and support inclusive communication practices.