Re: Audience Awareness

["Arlen P. Walker" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>]

      I do make certain assumptions, but they impact WHAT I'm explaining
      rather than HOW I explain it.  For example, I expect this audience to
      care about Technical Communication.  So I won't bother defining it.

You're wrong, you know. You've made several other assumptions about your
audience, many of which impact exactly how you explain your ideas. For one
thing, you've made the assumption we can all understand english. If you hadn't
made that assumption, then you would not have used english (an effect on HOW not
WHAT). On top of that, you've made an assumption about the level of english we
understand. That had a direct effect on the words you chose to explain your
ideas (again on HOW not WHAT). Had you assumed our command of english was lower,
you would have use simpler words and phrases.

You *are* aware of your audience. It's just that it's become an instinctive
process for you, so you're not aware of your awareness. Nothing wrong with that
at all. In fact, it's great that you've internalized it so well.


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 24

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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