TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> I find it amusing that people seem to think
> grammar and communication are in opposition
That depends on how you define grammar.
If you mean grammar in a linguistic sense - that is, as a set of observations
about how a language is used in a certain place and time by a certain group of
people - then what you're saying is self-evident.
However, if you mean prescriptive grammar - that is, the set of rigid rules
that includes enshrined prejudices and opinions that proclaims the user a
member of a self-appointed elite - then that's another matter. Even there, it's
not so much that prescriptive grammar and communication are in opposition than
the fact that there is no necessary connection between the two. Believers in
prescriptive grammar would have us think that, if we write grammatically, then
we are writing well. In fact, we can follow every prescriptive rule and still
write poor prose. Conversely, we can break most prescriptive rules, and still
write well.
Prescriptive grammarians like to blur the distinction between linguistic
grammar and their set of shibboleths, but they really don't have much to do
with one another.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604-421.7177
ROBOHELP X5 - ALL NEW VERSION. Now with Word 2003 support, Content
Management, Multi-Author support, PDF and XML support and much more!
Now is the best time to buy - special end of month promos, including:
$100 mail-in rebate; Free online orientation on content management
functionality; Huge savings on support and future product releases;
PLUS Great discounts on RoboHelp training. OFFER EXPIRES April 30th!
Call 1-800-358-9370 or visit: http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
