Describes project results on the nature of oral presentations given and produced by technical/managerial professionals working in business and industry. Notes that the survey responses focused on issues including frequency, target audience(s), objectives, data/information base, use of visuals, equipment, obstacles, and training. States that the…

Explores context in technical communication through the speech community. Asks what the relationship is among language, culture, and thought, and what knowledge is needed for effective communication. Argues that the Whorfian hypothesis answers the first question, whereas Chomsky's work on grammatical competence and Flower and Hayes' investigations…

Reports results of a study in which 72 African-American college students listened to and evaluated a tape-recorded excerpt of a speech in two versions, one in Ebonics and one in Standard English. Finds students rated the speaker who used Standard English as more credible (i.e. , more competent and having a strong character) and more sociable than…