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For the past 8 months I've been learning to
speak Mandarin in my spare time. One of the
side benefits is that I have built stronger
working relationships with SMEs from Asia,
who have been more than happy to help me
practice and learn the language.
I'm wondering if there are other benefits to
learning and using another language in the
workplace. In an effort to keep the topic
relevant to tech writing, I am curious to see
if anyone has any opinions/experience with
the following:
- Are there any trends in tech writing toward
hiring bilingual writers, especially those who
are bilingual in an Asian language?
- How many tech writers use two or more
languages in the workplace?
- How many tech writers have moved to another
country in order to learn the language (while still
working in the field)?
- (If you answered yes to the above question,
how fluent were you?)
- How many tech writers do research in another
language but write in English? What are some
of the challenges you face?
These are just a few of the things I'm curious
about. If you have any other information on
the topic (as long as it is relevant to technical
writing, of course), please pass it along.
Rowena
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rowena Hart Technical Writer
Xcert International Inc.
Web: http://www.xcert.com/
E-mail: rhart -at- xcert -dot- com
