earticle

영어

This paper explores the readability of Internet websites owned and operated by small and medium sized Korean enterprises (SMEs). SMEsplay an important role in the Korean economy because of theirabundance and the employment opportunities they provide. In anexport-driven economy like Korea’s, many SMEs target overseasbuyers, and thus often operate their own English-language websites tomarket products and communicate with customers. Acknowledging thatcompany websites must present information in an accurate, attractive,and concise manner and that translation of these websites also have todeliver the same function as their originals do, this paper examines 20sites to identify elements that could potentially hamper their readability.
At the word, sentence, and textual levels, many cases confirm thatthese websites are flawed semantically and grammatically, unnatural,and in some cases incomprehensible. These issues not only affect thereadability of a company’s website, but can also undermine thebusiness’ credibility and image. Systemized editing and proofreadingsupport and further research on text convention of the websites are required.