Re: The Bible in Tech Comm

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com wrote on 10/07/2005 02:21:13 PM:
> I probably like many others took a class or had a class that touched
> on the subject as the Bible being a form of technical communication.
> But if you want to rule out the Bible, are you also ruling out
> hieroglyphics, Sanskrit, cave paintings, Maya tablets and so on?

Woah, nelly! Ruling out one book does not rule out entire written 
languages. Ruling out the Bible doesn't rule out all written English for 
crying out loud. Compare apples to apples please.

> I don't think Bob the writer of Book A of the Bible had Tom, the
> writer of Book G in the Bible in mind, or vice versa. Not only were
> many of the books of the Bible separated by thousands of years, but
> also thousands of miles. I do not believe that getting a round table
> together to discuss consistency was all that possible.

Which only underlines that as a complete work, the Bible is NOT a good 
example of writing or of communication. Perhaps in context, with the 
specific audience in mind, and with knowledge of the exact purpose of the 
writing, certain parts MAY be good communication for their time, they may 
be technical.

But you can't hold up a work as a good example, then try to excuses the 
shortcomings. Or you have to admit, like a Beta VCR manual, while it may 
have been good for its time, it is long past best.

The project referenced, translating the Bible to text messaging lingo, is 
perhaps a good example of localization.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

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