Re: Are these words being used?

[JohnMethod -at- aol -dot- com]

Hello, the list!

Re: "orderability" and "shippability"

Communication might suffer from both inventing terminology, unless 
establishing a strong brand, and ignoring it. HOPEFULLY, the product's sales 
and marketing team knows your industry-specific terminology and the needs of 
the customer to whom the documentation module is directed.

Example:
Consider the word "doghouse" in oil patch, glass making, and marriage. Two 
are industry-specific terms, one is jargon, and none carry the literal 
meaning. Well, maybe in the context of marriage.....

The "upside" of industry-specific terms is (i) precision and (ii) a feeling 
of inclusion that improves communication and comfort.....IF, and ONLY IF, 
used properly.

The "downside" is (i) ambiguity if the words occur in common parlance and 
(ii) exclusion, by a very real reduction of "usability",    8^D    of the 
general audience.

I believe that using industry-specific terms improves communication to a 
narrower market, with an attendant loss in the general market. It depends on 
what you want to achieve with the product. Grenade, shotgun, rifle....

Parenthetic observation: Some industry-specific terms are equally confused 
with common terminology in languages other than English. A newbie, foreign 
reader, or outside consultant can get along much better if the glossary or 
external reference materials provide vocabulary.

Witness the techie alphabet soup of ODBC, OLEDB, TCP/IP, SCADA, HMI....... 
all are productive if wielded properly with the proper audience.... pretty 
turn-offish for non-techies, though.

Bye. Shields up.

John G. Boland