About us
The International Plain Language Federation promotes the public benefits of plain language and works to improve professional practice.
What is the International Plain Language Federation?
The IPLF is a federation of organizations that are dedicated to plain language. It was founded by the Center for Plain Language, Clarity, and the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN). It’s managed by a board made up of representatives of the member organizations. The Federation started as a working group in 2007, dedicated to working on issues the three founding organizations believed would be best tackled together. It was renamed in 2012 and adopted a formal constitution in 2019. Individuals cannot join the Federation, but you can join any of our member organizations.
Our members
The International Plain Language Federation was established in 2007 as a joint project of 3 organizations:
We work together to advance plain language as a profession.
Our board
We are managed by a board that has 6 representatives from the Federation’s 3 member organisations.
The presidents of the member organizations appoint a Chair, and the Immediate Past Chair also remains on the Board.
These members then select a further 6 Board members, who represent a wide range of countries and languages.
Our committees
While our Board provides oversight and sets the strategic direction for the Federation, much of our work is done by our committees.
These are made up of over 60 plain language practitioners from more than 20 countries. Our current committees are:
- Certification
- Communications
- Standard Localization and Implementation
- Training and Resources
We are immensely grateful for the time and effort of our volunteers in promoting plain language.