This article presents a reexamination of intercultural components in prominent, recent technical professional communication textbooks. This examination reveals the need for the technical professional communication field to establish a dynamic definition of culture as well as presents a possible definition, presents areas where textbooks have…

The purpose of this article is to assist classroom teachers in discerning qualitative differences between a student-written report and student-led research. There are many connotations to the terms "report" and "research," and they can have implications on how teachers effectively or ineffectively differentiate instruction to…

The nuclear power industry is undergoing a renaissance, led by initiatives from the Obama administration and several states. In light of this development and the growing information economy, it is crucial that the public be well-informed, effective, and responsible regarding important technological issues. For this reason, undergraduate education,…

Unnaming the axiomatic constructs of a named identity--that which is thought to be fitting within a given regime of definition--becomes then an act of secular blasphemy, a performance of decanonizing translation that discursively relocates and reinscribes communicated meaning from power, prefix, and prefigurement to perpetual movement. Departing…

Asks why technical documents rarely contain satisfactory glossaries. Suggests ways to avoid common problems such as superabundance of terms defined, complex definitions, non-parallel structuring of definitions, and excessive cross-referencing. (JAD)

Defines technical writing and gives contrasting illustrations of different kinds of technical writing. (MB)

Identifies four metaphors that appear dominant in current studies in the field of technical communication: transmitter, channel, balance, and bridge. Suggests limitations upon each of the metaphors. Discusses the alternative metaphors of lock, translator, transformer, synthesizer, conductor, and orchestrator. Proposes orchestration as a fruitful…

Discusses the identity problem both inside and outside the profession of technical communication. Discusses components of a definition of technical communication. (SR)

This paper defines technical writing as writing about subjects in the sciences in which the writer informs the reader through an objective presentation of facts. The emphasis in the definition is on three aspects of writing: the writer's subject; the writer's purpose; and the writer's attitude. A stanza from Shelley's "To a Skylark" and the entry…

Summarizes fifteen ERIC documents as these deal with the definition of technical writing and the distinction between technical and literary writing. (DD)

Six brief essays discuss English/French translation with regard to alcohol breath tests, magnetic tapes, nautical terminology, electrical terminology, and titles of hotel staff. (AM)

Discusses the role of the lexicographer in assisting the translator and the technical writer and in vocabulary control. (AM)

States that, although policies and procedure documents play an important role in developing and maintaining a consistent quality of interaction in organizations, research literature is weak in this area. Initiates further discussion by defining and describing policy/procedure documents. Identifies a third kind, work instructions. Uses a genre…

Addresses the need of technical communicators to become critical readers of empirical research. Presents simple definitions of selected research designs and statistical concepts. Accompanies these definitions with concrete examples related to the field of technical communication research. (SR)