Re[2]: Making it readable from the start

[Vince Putman <PUTMV -at- MAIL -dot- SYNTRON -dot- COM>]

     Hey Rosemarie, and all others who fail to acknowledge the folly of
     *developers*, of any heritage, of any education, for any reason, who
     edit sentences when they have been asked to review for technical
     content.  That's what Glen, myself, and many others have been trying
     to communicate.  This issue is absolutely central to our profession.

     Your sensitivities are misplaced.  Or, your ESL has failed you if you
     did not comprehend the context of Glen's clear reference to who was
     editing the sentences.  If you are one of the grammar experts who feel
     that content is not the primary objective, then just edit for English
     and nothing else.  To say it in another way: If your job is to edit
     the English content given to you, then you are not the developer, and
     you should not edit the technical content.  Likewise, the developer
     needs to leave the grammar to you and review for content only.  Clear?

     Flame-Out, no apologies owed.


        Vince Putman             | Avoid polishing the fire truck
        putmv -at- mail -dot- syntron -dot- com   | while the building burns down!
        713-647-7139 Houston, TX | Aka, Eschew Gratuitous Obfuscation






______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Making it readable from the start
Author:  Rosemarie R Gaglione <rgaglion -at- FLUTE -dot- AIX -dot- CALPOLY -dot- EDU> at INTERNET_MAIL
Date:    2/7/95 3:14 PM


There are plenty of people whose first language is English who should not be
editing anything!  The real issue is not about ESL, but whether or not a
particular individual is qualified to do editing work.

I think that Glen owes some very talented folks an apology.

Rosemarie Gaglione

On Fri, 27 Jan 1995, A. LiLia Santana wrote:

> Glen Accardo wrote the following lines:

> > Have you ever noticed that someone who is not a native speaker of English
> > just doesn't do a very good job of editing sentences?  I have.  Often.
> > It is a waste of their time and mine if developers spend time chasing
> > grammar errors.  They have a tendency to not be very good at it.  Tech
> > writers tend to be better at it.

> So, Glen, are you suggesting that people whose first langauge is not English
> should stay away from editing sentences?  Although I have a B.A. in
> English and am currently enrolled in the English M.A. Program and
> Technical Communication Program, should I stay away from editing simply
> because my native language is Spanish?

> A. Lilia Santana                         "When you read a classic, you do
> English Department                        not see more in the book than
> California Polytechnic State University   you did before; you see more in
> San Luis Obispo, CA  93405                you than was there before."

> lsantana -at- oboe -dot- aix -dot- calpoly -dot- edu                           --Clifton Fadiman