Communication
Technical Communication
KAS 401
UNIT 01
Lecture # 01-03
•Fundamentals of Technical Communication: Technical Communication: Features;
Distinction between General and Technical Communication; Language as a tool of
Communication;
Lecture# 04-6
•Dimensions of Communication: Reading & comprehension; Technical writing: sentences; Paragraph;
Technical style: Definition, Types & Methods;
Lecture# 07-8
•The flow of Communication: Downward; upward, Lateral or Horizontal; Barriers to Communication.
Fundamentals of Communication: Technical Communication: Features;
Distinction between General and Technical Communication;
Communications plays such a big part in our lives
today. It is hard to think of a single activity that
we engage in that doesn’t involve communications
in some way. In our busy world, we sometimes
forget just how important communications are to
our success, relationships, and, ultimately,
happiness in life. But, indeed, communications does
play a major role in achieving all of our goals.
Introduction to Technical Communication
Technical communication is a means of conveying scientific, engineering, and technical information
to the audience who want to use that information to learn, understand or perform some task. Technical
communication is a broad field and includes any form of communication that exhibits one or more of
the following characteristics:
(a) Communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications,
mechanical tools, medical procedures, or environmental regulations.
(b) Communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites.
(c) Providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is or
even if technology is used to create or distribute that communication.
Technical communication is also called technical writing. It is about expressing a subject or
technology to a specific audience in an easy to understand language and user-friendly format.
Technical writing focuses on audience as it conveys specific information about a specific technical
subject to a specific audience for a specific purpose. So, it is true to say that one of the most important
element of effective technical writing is knowing your audience and meeting their need and
expectations.
What is
Technical Communication?
Technical communication is the exchange of
information that helps people interact with
technology and solve complex problems.
To interact with technology in so many
ways, we need information that is not only
technically accurate but also easy to
understand and use.
Typical Kinds of
Technical Communication?
Technical communication serves various needs
in various settings.
Purposes of
Technical Communication
Technical communication serves three purposes
that sometimes overlap:
to inform: Anticipate and answer your readers’
questions
to instruct: Enable your readers to perform
certain tasks
to persuade: Motivate your readers
REQUISITES/ ASPECTS OF TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
Following are the requisites of technical communication:
1. Proficiency in Subject: The command on subject is the backbone of an
effective technical communication. (Subjective Competence)
2. Proficiency in Language: Proficiency in subject is incomplete without a
proper expression. Hence the proficiency in language is must. Language error
in technical writing is never entertained. (Linguistic Competence)
3. Proficiency in Organizing: We say technical communication is the
by-product of the Industrial Revolution. And gradually it has become
Indispensable for the human progress. For the successful execution of the
projects and assignments with the team technical communication is a must.
The most commonly used form of technical writing include projects,
proposals, persuasive memos, technical manuals, project reports, etc.
(Organisational Competence)
Technical Competence/ subjective
• Technically competencies are what a person
can do. They define hard skills, specific
knowledge, and what a person can do. For
example, an IT role would need someone with
a strong knowledge of system security,
specific software or platforms you use, and so
on. But, they would also need specific
behaviours if they were to be successful in
that role.
Linguistic Competence
Linguistic competences are related to the use of language
through the expression and interpretation of concepts,
thoughts, feelings, facts, and opinions in order to perform
oral and written discussions. Such interactions may take
place in diverse social and cultural contexts, which will
determine the characteristics of the language written or
spoken, such as the grammar, pragmatic, and
sociolinguistic characteristics.
Organisational Competence
Organizational competencies are core competencies defining what the company
does best and how it expects that to be accomplished. Most organizations define
15-25 competencies that define how employees are expected to act as a whole, and
common traits that everyone must have in order to succeed. These remain the
same across the organization.
Common organizational competencies include:
• Agility
• Problem-solving
• Integrity
• Customer centricity
• Strategic perspective
• Resilience
• Innovation
• Teamwork
• Personal leadership
Main Features of
Technical Communication
Technical communication is:
reader-centered
accessible and efficient
often produced by teams
delivered in paper and digital versions
OTHER FEATURES OF TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATION
As we know technical communication is a process of conveying technical
information through writing, speech and other medium to a specific audience
with a specific purpose in a specific format. So it is important to look into the
features that constitute a good technical communication/writing.
1. Objective language and relevant content
2. Specific format
3. Specific style
4. Analysing audience
5. Perceptible Aids or visual aids
Distinction between General and Technical Communication
Technical Communication General Communication
Document Type All Professionals, scientific Literary (poetry, prose, newspaper,
and specialist documents, magazine) and other types of writing
drafts, reports, letters, papers,
thesis
Style Familiar, simple, clear and Poetic, rhetorical or elegant and carries
precise stamp of individuality
Skills Acquired through practice Creative and innovative with an inborn
talent
Format Strict and well defined so that No set pattern and predefined
the reader can understand the organization
organization of document
Language Simple, Straightforward, Elegant or creative.
objective, rational and
scientific.
Content It is prepared on the basis of Spontaneous and written on- the-spur of
information collected the moment
Function Instructs, inform and May use complex and long sentences, but
persuades the meaning will be clear
Language as a tool of Communication
We all use language to communicate, to express ourselves, to get our ideas across. and to connect with the
person to whom we are speaking. When a relationship is working, the act of communication seems to flow
relatively effortlessly. Language is essentially a means of communication among the members of a society. In
the expression of culture, language is a fundamental aspect. It is the tool that conveys traditions and values
related to group identity.
Language is a communication tool used by everyone in their daily life as a means to convey information
and arguments to others. In this case, the language cannot be separated from culture because language
represent its nation and has close relation to the attitude or behaviour of groups of speakers of the
languages.
The role of language as a tool to express culture reality can be seen from:
1) Language is part of culture,
2) Even the language and the culture is in different, but have a very close relationship,
3) Language is strongly influenced by culture, and
4) Language significantly influence culture and way of thinking of people living within.
In the communication, language used by people is influence their culture or vice versa. If used parables, the
culture and language like Siamese twins, the two things that cannot be separated. Or as a coin; side one is the
language and the other is culture.
Characteristics of Language
Language is
Language is Arbitrary
Creative
Language is
Language is Restricted
Artificial
Language is Language is
Language is Recursive repetitive
Abstract
Language is redundant/ Repetitive
Redundancy means ‘Extra’ We use extra words
in sentences, without contributing to meaning.
This happens most, when we speak. All natural
languages were born as spoken language. So,
redundancy is seen.
Activity: Find the extra words in the
sentences
1. This is your last and final warning!
2. Amazon is giving free gifts on Diwali sale.
3. All of you meet me at 3 pm in the afternoon.
4. I will never ever forgive you!
Language is Recursive
• ‘Recursive’ means using the same grammar
formula to build infinite number of
sentences.
• A recursive sentence is long, with lots of
clauses.
Language is Recursive
Language is Abstract
Language allows us to generalize concepts in our brain. We use this
mental ‘definition’ to understand what a thing is, when we see it. This is
called abstraction.
Eg. The general concept of ‘Dress’ = “a formal wear”
Situation1: Indian Office = Saree / Suit
Situation 2: American Office = Shirt and Trousers
Think of the word “Glass”. Which one of the following pictures
matches your thought?
Language is Abstract
Language is artificial
We are not born with language. We learn it
through practice.
So, language is not genetic, but artificial.
Every language is a man-made system of sounds
and graphs. Each language-society has its own
system of sound-graph code.
Slide 01
Slide 02
Language is arbitrary
Language is man-made. There is no genetic connection between the words
and their referred objects. This makes language arbitrary.
Eg.: There is no reason why a four-legged creature is called ‘CAT’ in
English or ‘Billi’ in Hindi.
Activity: Look at the picture in next slide. Name it in at least 3
languages
Language is Restricted
• Language cannot express our thoughts and
feelings exactly and totally.
• It needs non-verbal hints to indicate
meaning.
• So, language is restricted, or, limited.
Activity:
Say in at least 3 ways:
“I am fine”
Language is Creative
Language is creative. We use different processes
of word-forming, to make new words out of the
limited alphabets and grammar.
Eg.: Blending: Smog [smoke +fog];
Clipping: CalC [ Calculator]
Mic [Microphone]
