TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Re[2]: Making it readable from the start From:Rosemarie R Gaglione <rgaglion -at- FLUTE -dot- AIX -dot- CALPOLY -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 8 Feb 1995 12:07:00 -0800
Who said that content is not important??? I certainly did not. Read my
message again for content.
On Wed, 8 Feb 1995 PUTMV -at- mail -dot- syntron -dot- com wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
