Sustainable Consumption and E-Waste Reduction: An Analysis of the Jargon Barrier in Consumer Electronics Readability for Right-to-Repair Practices

Every consumer electronics replacement cycle is driven by real human choices, yet shaped entirely by official product instructions. However, previous studies on environmental sustainability have predominantly focused on industrial hardware manufacturing and post-consumer recycling while largely overlooking how corporate linguistic practices undermine consumer repair agency. This study aims to investigate the jargon barriers and readability measures in consumer electronics manuals that hinder right-to-repair initiatives. To conduct this study, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative surveys of everyday consumers, qualitative interviews with consumers and repair technicians, and readability measures. The findings reflect that consumers face difficulties in carrying out regular maintenance due to complicated technical language, lack of localized Bangla translations, and insufficient visual instructions in product manuals. Consequently, users frequently replace their devices within short lifespans. However, consumers conveyed that clear and understandable instructions build their confidence to attempt basic self-repair. Framing through Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), the study proposes the application of plain and localized language in national policies and corporate manuals to increase device lifespans. The authors of this paper encourage more studies to explore how simplified and clear technical manuals can help consumers repair devices and support sustainability in tech markets through the reduction of e-waste.