Technical Communication
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What do you think of the following words? Can you guess the meanings? Try it out with your friends.
|Microprocessors |Stress |Diabetes |
|Laser |Fiber optics |Column |
|Surfing |Computer |Frame |
Normally, texts which contain technical terminology will incorporate definitions and explanations. This is particularly the case if the text is aimed at non-experts or students of technical subjects. A term should be defined if the word or phrase used
1: is unfamiliar to the reader 2: has multiple meanings 3: has a specific meaning in that discipline. The same word in one discipline can mean a different thing altogether in another discipline
A definition is:
‘a statement which gives clear, exact, concise description or explanation of a statement of the meaning of a word or phrase or the nature of an object’
When writing definition, some common words and expressions could be used, such as:
Examples: 1. A computer is an electronic device. 2. Exercises are physical and mental activities. 3. The term laboratory refers to a room or building used for scientific research. 4. Arachnophobia means that a very strong fear or hatred of spiders.
Elements of Definitions
← Plain English – the purpose of definition is to clarify meaning, so use language readers could understand
Examples:
compare: i) A tumor is a neoplasm
ii) A tumor is a growth of cells that occurs independently of surrounding tissue, and serves no useful function.
← Basic properties – definition should convey the properties that
What do you think of the following words? Can you guess the meanings? Try it out with your friends.
|Microprocessors |Stress |Diabetes |
|Laser |Fiber optics |Column |
|Surfing |Computer |Frame |
Normally, texts which contain technical terminology will incorporate definitions and explanations. This is particularly the case if the text is aimed at non-experts or students of technical subjects. A term should be defined if the word or phrase used
1: is unfamiliar to the reader 2: has multiple meanings 3: has a specific meaning in that discipline. The same word in one discipline can mean a different thing altogether in another discipline
A definition is:
‘a statement which gives clear, exact, concise description or explanation of a statement of the meaning of a word or phrase or the nature of an object’
When writing definition, some common words and expressions could be used, such as:
Examples: 1. A computer is an electronic device. 2. Exercises are physical and mental activities. 3. The term laboratory refers to a room or building used for scientific research. 4. Arachnophobia means that a very strong fear or hatred of spiders.
Elements of Definitions
← Plain English – the purpose of definition is to clarify meaning, so use language readers could understand
Examples:
compare: i) A tumor is a neoplasm
ii) A tumor is a growth of cells that occurs independently of surrounding tissue, and serves no useful function.
← Basic properties – definition should convey the properties that
References: Boeckner, K. and Brown, P.C. (1993). Oxford English for Computing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Glendinning, E.H. and Glendinning, N. (1995). Oxford English for Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lannon, J.M. (1994). Technical Writing. 6th ed. New York: HarperCollins College Publishers. Rose Tunku Ismail. (2001). A Student’s Guide to Writing. Kuala Lumpur: DBP.