Focusing on the process:
* Contraction is to understand as simplification is to comprehension. This emphasizes that both contraction and simplification make things easier to grasp.
* Contraction is to understand as compression is to storage. This focuses on the idea of making something more compact and manageable.
Focusing on the result:
* Contraction is to understand as abbreviation is to communication. This highlights the idea of making things shorter and more concise, facilitating easier communication.
* Contraction is to understand as synopsis is to story. This focuses on the idea of distilling something complex into a shorter, more manageable form.
Focusing on the language aspect:
* Contraction is to understand as slang is to communication. This points out that both involve a shorthand way of expressing meaning.
The best answer ultimately depends on the specific context and the intended meaning.