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.
Subject:made up words From:UC Bobby Collins <ucbcolli -at- SYSTEMA -dot- WESTARK -dot- EDU> Date:Mon, 10 Jun 1996 09:21:48 -0600
Whenever someone is trying to explain something highly technical (or just
unfamiliar) to me, and I get lost in jargon, I stop them and say
something like, "OK, use another word for that, or just make one up -
I'll know what you mean." The idea here is that if they say, "the
up-and-down-switch-that-turns-the-thing-on," they will pull together
ideas to convey the message. This is what, I think, occurs in cases
like "honorability." And while we do have the responsibility to guard
the language (doesn't everyone!), we have the primary responsibility
to make a reader/user/client understand what they are supposed to do.
Bobby Collins
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Westark University Center Site, Ft. Smith, Ark.
e-mail:UCBCOLLI -at- systema -dot- westark -dot- edu
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Post Message: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Get Commands: LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU with "help" in body.
Unsubscribe: LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU with "signoff TECHWR-L"
Listowner: ejray -at- ionet -dot- net
