Natural language is the form of communication that people use in everyday speech and writing.
Examples include English, German, and Spanish. In requirements engineering, it allows stakeholders to describe needs, goals, rules, and system behavior without specialist notation.
Natural language offers flexibility and broad accessibility. However, written statements may contain ambiguity, omissions, or inconsistent terms. Therefore, teams should use short sentences and simple words.
Each statement should express one requirement. Moreover, a glossary should define important terms. Templates can also create a consistent structure.
Models or formal notation may provide additional precision. Nevertheless, clear text remains essential for stakeholder communication.
Consistent terminology, active voice, and careful reviews improve the clarity, testability, and translation of requirements.
« Back to Glossary Index