Chapter 14 - Creating Definitions

Chapter fourteen covers the topic of definitions. Because words, phrases, or symbols have different meanings in different contexts, technical writing often requires definitions. The definitions differ from those of a dictionary in that they usually need to be more specific to be useful to the intended audience. Definitions aren’t only needed for the pure comprehension of the audience, but can be used to a marketer’s advantage as well. Figure 14.1 shows how definitions can be used to educate a customer about comparative benefits of a product. Chapter fourteen also addresses the different types of definitions such as operational and expanded definitions and how they may be used. I am constantly coming across technical definitions, and many times, across multiple contexts. Trying to define terms for the reader can be tricky, especially if they are common to me, but the guidelines and examples in chapter fourteen are very helpful in determining the correct way to go about it.

MSU techcomm 271--blogging our Burnett text

Chapter 13 – Designing Electronic Communication

Chapter 13 is becoming more relevant in people’s lives today. It deals with the way electronic communication is designed and presented. This is very important because it seems that all of our information today is presented electronically.
An interesting statistic Burnett mentions that from 2000 to 2005, web access has increased by 112 million in the U.S. alone. I wonder how many of us can imagine our lives without the Internet? For one thing, we wouldn’t have this luxury of online classes. But with electronic communication such as the Web, there are new design elements that come in to play. And with the expansion of the Web we have seen more and more intricacies involved with designing web pages and setting them apart from others. Personally, if I get to a website that doesn’t allow me to probe further with links and other resources, I would consider it inadequate and go elsewhere. Basically, in some way shape or form we all use electronic communication. Think real hard and try to name someone who doesn’t have a cell phone, computer or the Internet on their computer. It’s hard and that’s why it’s so important that we understand the Importance of how this electronic info is conveyed.

Welcome to F2006 Engl 271-08 online blog

Welcome to the Fall semester English 271-08 blog at Minnesota State University, Mankato. This blog is one of our major assignments for the semester; it is our online conversation about the material in Burnett's textbook, Technical Communication. Your task is to connect the material in the chapter with your personal, academic, or professional experience. When you blog a chapter, write at least 100 words. Every other student in the class should then make a comment on your blog of at least 50 words. Pete Meier is going to start us off with Chapter One in Burnett. Please have your comments to Pete's blog in by next Tuesday at midnight.

Chapter 12: Using Visual Forms

The most interesting point in this chapter for me is the relationship of visuals and text in a document. We see this kind of thing everywhere. I saw a road sign in Minnesota "Blind Intersection Ahead" where the color and shape of the sign combine with the text to make meaning for the drivers who are on that road. We see electronic documents like web sites, this blog, and software help documents that could not relay the intended meaning without that combination of visuals and text.

Our task as technical communicators, as Burnett points out in this chapter, is to make those combinations effective, meaningful, and also ethical.

Can you think of some examples where these combinations were or were not effective, meaningful, or ethical?



Look at the example in the photograph I took of my friends' cafe/grill in Prjnavor, Bosnia. The name of the cafe is DEMI, after one of their sons. Treat the front of the restaurant as a visual/verbal combination (images, color, text, shape.) How have they used visuals and text to inform potential customers? Do you think they have done a good job? Relate your comments to Burnett's seven functions in this example of text and visual.

Chapter 21: Preparing Instructions and Manuals

In some ways instructions and manuals are my personal starting point in technical communication. I was always interested in putting things together and making them work. I enjoyed agricultural processes like making hay or raising livestock. In 4-H club I learned to keep records and follow instructions.

Instructions, particularly bilingual or multilingual instructions, interest me. I collect examples for my students to learn from. Burnett has some examples on pp. 784 and 785.

Even when I am on a trip to Itasca, the Mississippi headwaters, I like to take note of and collect instructions (even implied instructions--Don't start fires-- as in the third paragraph on this sign at Preachers Grove.)

Writing instructions has become a large part of our profession now as well, with the rise of the hardware and software industries. Many graduates in technical communication find employment writing online help for software or for web applications.

In Chapter 21 Burnett gives us an overview of this part of technical communication field. If you do get a job as a technical writer, you'll find useful information here.

Blogging the WC 2006 from home

Following the World Cup games live is not too difficult even from the CST time zone (7 hours earlier than Germany.) Here at home, we watch the 3 p.m. games (in Germany) at 8 a.m. in Iowa and Minnesota. To check the time differences you can convert times here.

There are sites like the official WC site that have live match commentary. I assume that you can find live television coverage if you have cable too.

One question we might ask as technical communicators is how is the experience of the event influenced by the medium that we use to watch or listen to the matches? For example, being in the stadium, we can hear, see, and watch the action on the field and in the stands. From the web site we can read the commentary, look at video clips and the still photographs. Through television we can witness the event also, but in a different way. How is the observer's experience influenced by the medium (radio, television, in-person) that the observer uses? What is your experience?

Blogging the WC 2006 from Bosnia

From Bosnia, I am still really at the WC due to the fact that wherever a person is in Europe, the three games will be on televisions at 3, 6, and 9 p.m. Yesterday, for example, I caught a couple of minutes of Spain v. Ukraine at 3 in a sidewalk cafe. Then we watched the second half of Saudi Arabia v. Tunisia for the second game and then at 9 p.m. we watched all of Germany v. Poland. For a while in the second half, Germany couldnt buy a goal, but they finally put one in the back of the net in the 89th minute.

In some ways the sport of soccer is something that unites the world. That is everyone in the world knows the laws of the game, likes to watch it, and acknowledges its importance in the world. Everyone appreciates a beautiful play, a nice goal, a nice but unsuccessful shot on goal, or a nice save by a keeper. It is in some ways a common sport language that is understood world wide.

On the other hand, soccer at the World Cup is an occasion for nationalism. That is because people tend to support their own country when their team is playing. The Brazil v. Croatia game two days ago was a big deal here. Bosnia borders on Croatia and there are Croatian people living in Bosnia. The languages are similar. Brazil, however, is regarded as the home of 'joga bonito', the beautiful game. That is, the Brazilians are master soccer players and Brazil is the home of Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and other soccer magicians.

At the USA v. Czech Republic game, there were many Czech flags and US flags. There were lots of chants and waves. The chants are for teams, the waves are general enthusiasm as far as I could tell.

The referee crews are generally of the same language. That is Chilean and Paraguayan officials worked the USA v. Czech Repulic game, so they could easily communicate in Spanish, their common language. I noticed that the crew last night on the Saudi Arabia v. Tunisia game had one Arabic speaking member but the others were not. I suppose they had one Arab on board in case of some kind of communication need.

So soccer unites and divides. The matches at the WC are attended by folks from all the two team countries of course, but also a lot of German people come out to witness the fun even if their team is not playing.

It is also true that even if our own team does not win, we appreciate the finer moments of the game. For example, as I watched Germany's first game against Costa Rica on June 9th at my cousins home in northern Germany, the first goal by Lahm and the third goal from a direct free kick by Frings, would be appreciated by anyone, whatever their national loyalties.

One aspect of international communication, a subject that Burnett deals with in her text, is common knowledge or common expertise. This commonality of knowledge about certain content areas obviously aids communication across cultures and languages. If two people who don't speak the same language or dont share religion, but both play or understand soccer, then they do, in some ways, share a common language. This point is an important one in international communication. They can exchange opinions about certain players or team with a few words and quickly understand each other.

One of my hosts here speaks no English and I speak no Bosnian, or Serbo Croatian, but we enjoyed the game last night together. He kept saying that Germany was weak and Poland would win 1 to 0. I told him it would be 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 for Germany. The final result was 1 to 0 for Germany. I reminded him of that this morning and we had a good laugh.

What are your thoughts about international technical communication? Can you think of examples similar to the soccer example?

That's all for now from Prjnavor, Bosnia Herzegovina.