TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Before we can standardize our language, we must first standardize the way in
which we think. Language is simply a means of vocalizing our thoughts. Would
anyone want this? Would anyone permit this?
We, however, standardize our language on our own by speaking to one target
audience in one manner, to another quite differently. Do we men not set speak
differently around women then we speak in company of our close male friends?
Do we not write differently when presenting information to the individual who
writes our evaluation than we do to other staff members at our own level?
We set our standards to match the audience we are addressing, the same as we
do when writing documentation. And either consciously or unconsciously, we
adhere to those standards we learned in school; spelling, punctuation,
grammar, and usage.
I agree with the philosophy that we, as either members of the STC or the
greater fellowship of writers, cannot arbitrarily set standards for others to
follow without working with, or for, those from whom we expect compliance.
