summary of what is tc.pdf

8/10/2019 Summary of what is TC.pdf

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Whats your experience in these genres?Mark the following genres (all of them typical of academic and workplace settings) as S (for

speech) or W (for writing). Remember were dealing with technical communication.

telephone callvideo conferenceemail message

lecturetechnical manualtechnical presentationabstractresearch papermeetingthesis / project defense


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What is technical

communication?i.e. how do you tell apart a technical

text (from a non-technical one)?


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WHAT IS TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION?

Technical settings, technical contents

Academic and/or professional

Practical: user-oriented and efficient


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WHAT IS TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION?

Bombard et al. (2007: 19)


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Main features of technical communication:

Functional ( it strives for effic iency)

Concerned with the audience

It involves a choice in format

Organisation is apparent to the audienceVisuals are very important

Accurate and specialised terminology is used

Certain conventions are used ( grammar, usage, etc.)

It lends i tself to a problem-solving approach


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TECHNICALCOMMUNICATOR

STEPS: DECISION-MAKING

Devising an appropriate rhetorical strategy forcommunication ( what should you say to whom?How?)

Technical communication: problem-solving

Pre-writing

A PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH


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Academic speaking

is similar in many ways to academic writing: it islinear, it is explicit, it has one central point and it ispresented in standard-formal language. Academic

spoken style is also similar in many ways in that itis formal, explicit, hedged, and responsible .However, it is less complex and objective than

written language.

To know more about Academic English and Features Of Academic Spoken English, visit:http://www.uefap.com/speaking/feature/featfram.htm
http://www.uefap.com/speaking/feature/featfram.htmhttp://www.uefap.com/speaking/feature/featfram.htm


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DEVELOPING A RHETORICAL STRATEGYWHO is the text addressed to?

WHY is the text needed?

WHAT information do I need to convey?

HOW should I organize it in order to communicate

effectively? How should I communicate it?

A PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH


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THE PLAN SHEET


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What types of audiences do engineers usually have?

And what important things about them can be worth

knowing?


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ANALYZING AUDIENCE

Who is going to l isten to the speech?

(educational and cultural background, position w ithin Co., English

competence; single reader or mixed / secondary audiences)

Why do they need to l isten to the text? (objectives and needs of the

audience; shor t-term or long-term; actions to be taken)How much do they know about the topic?

(level of expertise Are introductory conceptual frameworks necessary? Are

examples, definitions and non-defined technical acronyms necessary?

Technical jargon?

. What is their attitude towards the topic? (positive or negative attitude;

receptivity; condit ions under which theyll r ead the document, etc.)


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1.-Technical experts read to know about latest discoveries (update) understand jargon, acronyms, abbreviations interested in theory and want details resort to graphical info read critically and expect well-supported claims interested in method and conclusion2.-Technicians read for how to info( how to perform technical tasks) interested in practical aspects rather than theoretical may have a limited knowledge of theory may seek background info to increase understanding need and want visual information read thoroughly and follow explanations to the letter


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3.-Executives and administrators read to make decisions pressed for time interested in the gist of the document

(conclusions & recommendations) want to find essential information easily may have certain familiarity with technical terms look for graphics and other visuals

want generalizations, not details want info to be explained in plain terms

4.- Laypeople. interested in fur thering their knowledge of topics that have an

impact on their lives. cannot understand acronyms, technical jargon, etc. need background information. require simple explanations (definit ions, descript ions). want graphics to understand info better

. are more interested in practice than in theory


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5.- Students read to learn need and w ant theory understand some technical jargon expect numerical & graphical info require clear explanations , with definitions & exempli fications interested in both generalizations and detail

appreciate a friendly and didactic presentation of information

6.-Mixed (different levels of expertise, differentpurposes)

wri ters should include background info wri ters should include definitions of technical terms wr iters should use a matter-of-fact, business-like tone Writers should be clear and to-the-point to cater for diversity

Primary and Secondary readers


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Analyzing purpose

What is the purpose of the speech?

What do I want to achieve with thismessage or speech?

What action do I want the audience to

take? What use may the audience make ofthe oral message?


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"There's a comfortable glow in the shop, and cool,satisfying smoke is billowing out of the windows ."

HOW? Style and tone


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STYLE

Style refers to the way the message is expressed andis determined by the choice of grammar, syntax,vocabulary and idiomatic expressions .

Different gradients of style:Very formal > formal > neutral > informal > veryinformal

Formal style creates a distance between writer-readers,usually used when a large audience or superior isaddressed. Features: careful choice of words, careful useof grammar & punctuation, formal vocabulary

Informal style aimed at peers or when there is a closerrelationship between writer-reader. Features: associatedwith everyday conversational speech, vague & impreciseexpressions, lax use of grammar, syntax & punctuation,

widespread use of idioms, contractions ,


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Examples Very formal Pursuant to your orders, it is with great regret that we

hereby inform you that your companys shares havebeen observed to show a significant decline in the stockexchange.

Formal We regret to inform you that the value of your shares has

significantly decreased in the last few days. Neutral Wed like to tell you that your shares have gone down in

the last few days. Informal Were sorry to tell you that your shares have only just

collapsed. Very informal I dunno how to break the news to you, Ive kept my eyes

peeled on the shares for a while and the investment hasbeen a complete disaster, sorry bout that.


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Formal and academic verbs: examples (1)AccelerateAccommodateAccompanyAchieveAcquireAddressAdjustAlterAnalyseApply

ArrangeAssemble

DetectDetermineDevelopDeviseDiscoverDiscussDisplayDistributeDivideEffect

ElicitEmploy

AssessAssistAssociateAttach

CorroborateDeclineDecreaseDelayDemonstrateDescribeDesign

EnableEnhanceEstablishImply

ImproveIncludeIncorporateIncreaseIndicateInfluenceInitiateInsert

InterpretInstallIntroduceInvestigateIsolateLimitLocateMaintainManage toMaximise

Measureduce

RefineRefuteRegulateReinforceRelateRemainRemoveRepeatReportRepresent

ResolveRestrict

MinimiseProposeProveProvide

PurchasePut forwardQuantifyRealiseRecommendRecordReduce

RetainRevealReviewRevise

RiseSampleSelectSeparateSimulateSolveStabilise


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Formal, academic verbs: examples (2)

AlterAvoid

Bring aboutBroadenCalculateCarry outCategoriseCauseChallengeClaimClassify

ConsiderConsolidate

ConstructContributeControlConvertCorrespondEliminateEncounterEnsureEstimateEvaluate

CollectCompareCompensateComputeConcentrateConcludeConcurConductConfirm

Connect

ExamineExistExpandExpectExplainExploreExposeExtendExtract

Facilitate

FilterFocus onFormulateGenerateGive rise toGuaranteeIdentifyIllustrateImmerse

Implement

OccurOperateOptimiseOriginateOutlineOutperformOvercomeOverlookPerform

PermitPoint outPosition

MiscalculateMisjudgeMisunderstand

ModelModifyMonitorNeglectNoteObserveObtain

PrecedePredictPrevent

ProduceStateSucceedSummariseSupportTestTrack


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Formal and academic verbs: examples (3) TransferTreat

TriggerUndertakeUtiliseValidateVaryVerifyYield.


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Task on formal-informal equivalents: match them

To acquireTo reduceTo access

To appreciateTo captureTo deteriorate

To implementTo rationalizeTo remunerate

To withdraw

To put into actionTo pull outTo get worse

To buyTo payTo cut down

To get intoTo takeTo understand

To make simpler


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Informal FormalStick out ..Put in

Run out Get back ..Break down .

Belong ..Danger .Be many ..

Task on formal-informal equivalents


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TONE

Types of tone a writer may adopt :

personal-impersonal (subjective-objective)distantironicsarcasticbusiness-likepolitecasualtentative-assertiveinsultinginsistentcondescending


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Common types of tone in TCPersonal tone (the you approach) : not keeping a

distance with readers, writers adopt a more personalstance, trying to get the audience involved. Texts are +dynamic and persuasive. (Active Voice) -> didactictone

Impersonal tone : writers remain in the background,remaining aloof or detached from the audience. Thefocus is on the object of study rather than on the doer.

Texts are more lengthy and bulky. ( Passive Voice)

Tentative tone : reflects writers need to be cautious, andshow a lack of certainty, expressed by means ofexpressions of probability, modal verbs, approximateexpressions, impersonal statements,


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Analysis of a company annual report: the CEOs letter toshareholders

Assertive tone to project a competent,trustworthy and authoritative image,to accentuate the positive, stampcredibility, decisiveness and

conviction:

-We firmly believe we are wellpositioned to become a multimediatechnology leader

- Commercial activities in China willdefinitely create unprecedentedopportunities...- Im sure that our company willcontinue to grow in 2008

Tentative tone to mitigate directness,withhold commitment, show politicaldelicacy, integrity and honesty(willingness to address hard realities):

- it would appear that localinfrastructure projects should takeup most of..-it is possible to envisage a future..

- Some improvement may be possiblein 2008 as a result of the expansion- At this stage, the 2008 results areunlikely to show significant growthover 2007


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Example of formal style & impersonal tone

One of the first design tasks is determining appropriate movements of the

wipers. The movements must be sufficient to ensure that critical portions of thewindshield are cleared. xhaustive statistical studies reveal the view ranges of

different drivers. This information sets guidelines for the required movements of

the wipers. Fundamental decisions must be made on whether a tandem or opposed

wipe pattern better fits the vehicle. Other decisions include the amount of driver

and passenger side wipe angles and the location of pivots. Figure 1.1. illustrates

a design concept, incorporating an opposed wiper movement pattern.Once the desired movement has been established, an assembly of components

must be configured to produce the wipe pattern. ubsequent tasks include

analyzing other motion issues such as timing of the wipers and whipping

tendencies. For this wiper system, like most machines, understanding and

analyzing the motion is necessary for proper operation .


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Reflections on style and tone in TC

A formal style tends to be accompanied by an

impersonal tone. Informal style is usually used in combination with amore personal, friendly tone.

Writers should avoid making an excessive use of extremely formal words and expressions textssound pretentious.

Different types of tone and style appear in differentparts of the same document.

General piece of advice: adopt a polite & consideratetone all through the document and avoid being ironic orsarcastic.

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