Unreadability: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word combines 'un-', meaning 'not', with 'readability', which comes from 'readable' and means 'able to be read easily'.
• It first appeared in the English language in the mid-20th century, reflecting changes in writing styles.
• The roots of 'read' can be traced back to Old English 'rædan', which meant 'to advise, interpret, or read'.

Literature

• In literature, unreadability can be a stylistic choice that invokes deep thought, seen in works by authors like James Joyce.
• Some forms of poetry intentionally use complex language to challenge readers and provoke emotions.
• Certain types of avant-garde literature purposely obscure meaning to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

Psychology

• When something is unreadable, it may trigger feelings of frustration or confusion, impacting a person's willingness to engage with it.
• Studies show that excessive complexity in text can lead to cognitive overload, making comprehension more difficult.
• People tend to prefer simplicity in writing, often associating clear messages with better communication.

Design

• In graphic design, unreadability can be a design flaw, often caused by poor font choices or text placement on a page.
• Poor color contrast between text and background significantly increases unreadability, affecting accessibility for readers.
• Good design principles prioritize readability, showing that aesthetic choices significantly influence how effectively information is communicated.

Technology

• With the rise of digital communication, unreadability has become a concern due to rapid texting styles like abbreviations and emojis.
• Software developers focus on code readability to make programming easier for teams to work together efficiently.
• Text-to-speech technology faces challenges when dealing with unreadable text, affecting its ability to convey meaning accurately.