Concordance Tools, Simplified English, etc.

[Jill Clay <JILL_CLAY -at- NON-HP-PALOALTO-OM8 -dot- OM -dot- HP -dot- COM>]

     Hello -

     My writing group is searching for a concordance tool and/or
     "controlled English" or "controlled language" tool. Purpose:
     We want to build a dictionary of our common terms, choose among terms
     we use to mean the same thing, identify "problem areas" - in short,
     develop documentation that adheres to "Simplified English"-type rules,
     and make the doc easy to use and translate.

     For those who don't know: A concordance tool, as I understand it, is
     software you can run on a document or set of docs (you can specify
     various parameters) and it will return, for example, a list of the
     frequency of certain terms you used. For example: "end user" found 368
     times, "user" (no "end") found 455 times. This is a bad example of
     mulitple terms used to mean same thing, but right now I can't think of
     any - sorry!

     Does anyone know of a good concordance tool I can use on software
     docs? I have come across Asset and ClearCheck - Asset only works on
     SGML format, and ClearCheck will accept SGML or Word, but has no
     downloadable demo.

     Also, I evaluted the AECMA Simplfied English manual and dictionary,
     and I read all through the TECHWR-L archives on this subject. I am
     surprised that no one mentioned its LACK of applicability to software.
     The manual itself is horribly written, and some of its rules would
     force you to use passive voice or become wordier. Also, it applies to
     *the aerospace industry*, which is VERY different from the software
     industry - especially in terms of "end users" - we have military-types
     versus the masses out there who use any kind of software.

     For example, SE has a real problem with the use of verbs. I say, if a
     word like "Test" is at the beginning of a sentence, *it's probably a
     verb!* SE forbids the use of Test as a verb. INstead of "Test [the
     software]," it recommends "Perform a test on ..." It drives me crazy
     and I cannot believe anyone out there is recommending it!

     Sorry. WIll get off my soapbox now. BTW, I have been charged with
     finding a tool that will tie in with SE, so if I am forced to use it
     (with our in-house modifications, I assume) then I will.

     Thanks,
     Jill


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