In an era of cultural diversity and global engagement, creating content that speaks to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities is crucial. Explore the art of designing content for translation, with a focus on the expertise offered by translation services in Australia.

While words are an important part of health promotion resources, consider the design from the early stages of the process. A well-designed CALD resource development makes reading easier. And, if you can top it up with pictures that illustrate what you are explaining, all the better.

Here are 5 points to keep in mind:

  1. Leave up to a third of the document as white space.Many languages, like Spanish, Vietnamese and Greek, use more space than English. Also, plenty of white space makes the resource more clear and attractive.
  2. Use imagery appropriate to the community you are targeting.If your audience cannot relate to the photos they will be less likely to internalise your message. We wrote a whole post to help you get it right when it comes to images. Check it out!
  3. Ignore the temptation to use white or light-coloured words on a dark background.White backgrounds are ideal to improve accessibility, as coloured backgrounds, specially with white font, can pose difficulties for people with disabilities.
  4. Use a larger size font and make it appropriate to your message. A good guideline is 12pt or larger.This rule applies especially if your audience has learning or reading disabilities, in which case you should be using a font that is at least 14pt.It can also help to choose a typeface that is easy to read – like Arial, Calibri, Cambria and Times New Roman.
  5. Left justify your text. If it is spaced out across the column or page it is harder to read.If you found this interesting, you might want to read other articles on our CALD Resource Development series. Here are some suggestions:

cald resource development

The Importance of Text Alignment for CALD Resource Development

Left-justified text alignment refers to aligning the text along the left margin, creating a straight edge on the left side while allowing for ragged edges on the right side of the text. Here are some explanations on the readability advantages of left-justified text and how it helps in avoiding text spacing issues for better comprehension:

  1. Readability advantages of left-justified text: Left-justified text is commonly preferred in many forms of written communication, including books, articles, and promotional materials. Here’s why it offers readability advantages:a. Visual consistency: Left-justified text provides a consistent starting point for each line, making it easier for readers to locate the beginning of the next line. This consistent left edge helps establish a rhythm and flow while reading, enhancing overall comprehension.b. Familiarity: Left-justified text aligns with the natural reading patterns of languages that are read from left to right, such as English. Readers are accustomed to scanning and following text that starts from the left, which contributes to a smoother reading experience.c. Ease of navigation: With left-justified text, readers can quickly skim and scan the content, as their eyes naturally move in a straight line from left to right. This facilitates finding specific information, locating headings or subheadings, and navigating through the text more efficiently.
  2. Avoiding text spacing issues for better comprehension: Proper text spacing plays a vital role in ensuring readability and comprehension. Here’s why left-justified text helps in avoiding spacing issues:a. Consistent spacing: Left-justified text aligns the beginning of each line, maintaining consistent spaces between words. This consistency helps readers anticipate and understand the gaps between words, reducing the chances of misinterpretation or confusion.b. Avoiding excessive spacing: If text is spaced out across the column or page, it can create irregular and excessive gaps between words. These wide spaces can disrupt the flow of reading and make it more challenging for readers to connect words and phrases smoothly.c. Minimizing visual distractions: Left-justified text minimizes uneven spacing within and between words, reducing visual distractions that can hinder comprehension. By keeping the spacing uniform, the focus remains on the content itself, allowing readers to concentrate on understanding the message.

Overall, left-justified text alignment contributes to improved readability and comprehension by providing visual consistency, adhering to natural reading patterns, facilitating ease of navigation, maintaining consistent spacing, and minimizing visual distractions.

cald resource development

Further Resources for CALD Resource Development

  1. Exploring additional articles in the CALD Resource Development series: This refers to other articles or resources within the CALD Resource Development series that provide further insights and guidance on creating effective health promotion resources for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. These additional articles can cover various aspects of resource development, such as language considerations, cultural appropriateness, community engagement, and more. By exploring these articles, you can gain a deeper understanding of CALD resource development and gather practical tips to enhance your approach.
  2. Culturally-appropriate imagery: This topic focuses on the importance of selecting imagery that resonates with the specific CALD community you are targeting. It delves into the significance of using visuals that reflect the cultural backgrounds, experiences, and preferences of the intended audience. The article may provide guidelines on how to choose appropriate images, avoid stereotypes, and ensure that the visuals effectively communicate the intended message to the CALD community.
  3. Accessible NAATI translations: This topic addresses the challenge of translating health promotion materials into languages spoken within CALD communities, particularly in the context of Australia where NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) translations are often required. It may provide insights into the best practices for producing translations that are not only accurate but also accessible and culturally appropriate for CALD audiences. The article could cover considerations such as language proficiency, readability, translation quality, and the importance of engaging professional translators.
  4. Producing effective health promotion fact sheets: This topic focuses on the specific genre of health promotion fact sheets and how to create them in a manner that effectively communicates key information to CALD communities. It may discuss strategies for simplifying complex medical concepts, using plain language, organizing content in a clear and concise manner, incorporating visuals, and adapting the format to meet the needs of diverse populations. The article could also touch upon formatting, design considerations, and tips for disseminating the fact sheets within CALD communities.

By exploring these related topics, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of CALD resource development, covering aspects such as imagery, translation, and specific resource formats like fact sheets. This knowledge can further guide your efforts in creating impactful and culturally-sensitive health promotion materials for CALD communities.

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