Re: Examination for Japanese tech communicators

[Vince Putman <PUTMV -at- MAIL -dot- SYNTRON -dot- COM>]

     No, Noriko, it makes no sense at all!  Considering the talents required to
     write original copy about technical subjects, (if you do), TechWriters
     should be considered equal to engineers, or above.  And be paid more!

     However, in the real world, all TC's, TW's, and whatever else we are
     called, are "regarded as second-class citizens by engineers" everywhere.
     We are first -- only on the layoff list.  Some may think they are well
     respected in their companies, but they are really just tolerated by the
     engineering staff.  Some have other unrelated talents and attributes which
     help them gain respect, but the respect obtained this way can not be made
     public.  Face it, we are what you will become - Underpaid Wantabees or
     HasBeens.

     You are joining the ranks of those who wish they had pursued a real
     engineering degree.  These feelings occur after years of fighting off the
     reputation of non-technical writers who say they can do the job, and always
     fail.  Help us all by taking at least, a minor in a technical field or as
     many technical subjects as you can!  We need a better rap. . .

        Vince Putman in Houston  | Most people think new ideas are just
        putmv -at- mail -dot- syntron -dot- com   |   a criticism of the old ways!!
        713-647-7223 FAX 579-7709|   Eschew Gratuitous Obfuscation


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________

Subject: Examination for Japanese tech communicators
Author:  Noriko Yotsuyanagi <noriko -at- boombox -dot- micro -dot- umn -dot- edu> at INTERNET_MAIL
Date:    3/8/95 6:41 AM


I did not follow all the discussions on testing for technical writers, but I
have found the topic interesting, because I (a Japanese student of TC) am now
conducting research on the profile of Japanese technical communicators. In
Japan, one of the professional TC organizations is trying to establish a
technical communicator certification examination, which contents seem to include
Japanese technical writing skill, visual and other communiation skills,
knowledge on PL, ISO, etc., documentation planning and management, and so on.
One of the reasons is that (they hope) this kind of examination can help enhance
the status of technical communicators, whose profession is almost unknown to the
general public in Japan, and help make tech communicators/writers more visible
specialists in companies (manufacturers).  I hear tech communicators are often
regarded as second-class citizens by engineers in Japan.  Does this make sense?

*******************************
Noriko Yotsuyanagi

Scientific and Technical Communication
University of Minnesota

noriko -at- boombox -dot- micro -dot- umn -dot- edu
yots0001 -at- maroon -dot- tc -dot- umn -dot- edu