Defing technical communication

After reading "Relocating the Value of Work", I have a few comments and a question for Johndan. First, it's always refreshing to hear how technical communicators are trying to redefine what we do. All too often we--or at least I do--have to fall back on the technical part of what we do, making documents and procedures for implementation. The four areas that you describe focus more on the communication side of what we can do is what I think is, at the very least, essential to the work that we have to do! The question I have is that if we are going to alter the perception of what we do, should we still be called "technical" communicators? Should we place more value on the communication than on the technical aspect of what we do?

What does academia have to do with tech comm anyway?

I've been thinking about your post from last week, Lee. How can theoretical pieces have any effect on the technical writer in the workplace? After some thought I came up with the conclusion: what DOESN'T it have to do with technical writing? It may sounds like I'm beating a dead horse here, but we as technical writers have to take almost everything into consideration. Our practice can have a multitude of impacts on society. Perhaps they aren't the biggest impacts, but they still add up. We influence the lines of communication within society, keep the information flowing in an understandable way. The theories that many in academia study--ethics, humanis, feminism, etc--are what shapes society. These theories impact us in that they can shape how we will keep the lines of communication open. By understanding a new set of societal ethics for example, we can make our writing more relevant to the readers. The same can be said for feminism; a new surge in the movement could mean that we must adapt. To me, it all seems connected. We all live together and have to be aware of each others thoughts and opinions.

Welcome Johndan

Johndan Johnson-Eilola may have time to join us this week in our blog. I would suggest that you read his article in Central Works so that you know where he is coming from. Please try to engage him in conversation this week.