Things that Technical Writers Need to Provide (Part 2)

A recent discussion on the Technical Writer group at LinkedIn asked how to explain to a client that a technical writer need not be an expert in the subject matter of the manuals. As technical writers, we have to be learners, but we usually do not begin as experts in the scientific topics we cover. However, we must be:

• Experts in Communicating Across Cultural Lines Because our audience likely consists of at least one more culture than our own, technical communicators must take account of differences between different cultures. Therefore, G. Hofstede's cultural dimensions, A. Trompenaars' cultural theories, and E. T. Hall's cultural factors should be known and used as a first step in making our manuals applicable across cultural divides. Additionally, knowledge of the audience's culturally-based preferences.
  
  Worldwide audiences have wide-ranging ideas of how one communicates logic, credibility, and the rest of the message. In America, manuals often contain a picture of an open hand with the palm extended (refer to the illustration) to tell the reader to stop and read this text before proceeding. To the Greek, the same picture says “go to hell” (Flammia & Voss, p.84). To a Westerner, white may be associated with brides or the “good guy.” In China and Japan, white is the color of mourning (Vanka, p.16). Therefore, a writer should either know enough about cultural differences that can affect text and graphics or that writer should know enough to have their work checked by an editor for localization issues the document is complete.

(To be continued.)

References

Flammia, M., & Voss, D. (2007). Ethical and Intercultural Challenges For Technical Communicators and Managers in a Shrinking Global Marketplace. Technical Communication, 54(1), 72-87.
Vanka, S. (1997). Culture and Colors: Sacred Green, Lucky Pink? The Futurist. 31(40), 16-17.