Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Third strike, and out:

Ned Bedinger responded to my defense of a broader definition for  
technical communication: <<Don't be so hasty to dismiss the social  
function(s) of jargon.>>

I don't in any way dismiss it. But I don't give it nearly as much  
credibility as the cultural studies folk. They tend towards the  
lunatic fringe when they start talking about cultural embedding.

<<BTW, what is this genre you mention? Is it an abstract technical  
communicator thing?>>

Easy enough to find in any dictionary, but for those who don't have  
one handy: a genre is nothing more complex than a group  of related  
topics. Literature is one genre, computer documentation another,  
history yet another.

<<Good information for an intern, but I'm looking for something a  
little more advanced if you're offering technical writing advice.>>

What specifically are you looking for? (Please start another thread  
with an appropriate topic... this subject line is no longer really  
relevant.)

<<You've got your nerve.>>

I do, and you struck it. You don't seem to be taking the discussion  
seriously. I don't mind being disputed, but I don't enjoy being  
cavalierly dismissed without a credible counterargument. If you want  
to debate, fine; if you want to promote dogma you can't or won't  
defend, you just painted a big target on your back.

<<"Big hat, no cattle." Let's get back to technical writing.>>

Care to define your terms?


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
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