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.
Re: Manuals Written in Non-American English (Long - in two versions)
Subject:Re: Manuals Written in Non-American English (Long - in two versions) From:Dan Martillotti <danm -at- DEV -dot- TIVOLI -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 21 Aug 1996 10:46:34 CDT
Sabahat wrote:
> "I am a little miffed. Apparently Americans, when they start thinking
> about abroad, only three groups come to their minds -- Japanese,
> European and some times British. I resent people saying without
> qualification that you should write short sentences with simple words. I
> find that condescending. I -- and most other professional Third Worlders
> -- would find something written that way very, very patronizing.
Why do you find short sentences with simple words in technical documentation
condescending? The idea is that the writer takes a complex concept or procedure
and writes so that the average reader can understand it. In the world of technical
documentation for computer software, the average reader is no longer just the
college educated individual. And as long as the American public school system
continues to rate so low, we need to write in short sentences with simple words.
Simple sentences and short words. Get used to them.
_______________________________________
Dan Martillotti ******************
* * *
Tivoli Systems * * * *
(512)436-8359 * * * ** ** "The more that you read, the more
danm -at- tivoli -dot- com * * * * * * * things you will know. The more that
* * * * * you learn, the more places you'll go."
Class of '90 * - Dr. Seuss
***
---------------------------------------
TECHWR-L List Information
To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
E-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send administrative commands
ALL other questions or problems concerning the list
should go to the listowner, Eric Ray, at ejray -at- ionet -dot- net -dot-
