3.1 Defining technical communication
At this point, if you have already read sections 1 and 2 of this text, you have a good idea of what technical communication is and what technical communication does. You know that technical communication is rhetorical: it is goal-driven, audience-focused, and dynamic. Technical communication responds to a specific rhetorical situation. Further, technical communication is dependent upon context. As technical communicators, it is important to consider your goals, your audience’s specific needs, and the context that creates the need for this text.
It may seem odd to take a moment to pause and consider how we define technical communication at this point in the text, after we’ve already spent time discussing technical communication as rhetorical and as engaged with diversity, equity and inclusion. Likely, by now, you already have a good sense of how you would define technical communication (and maybe you already had a definition in mind before beginning this text). You know what technical communication looks like and that it is audience and goal focused, and that it typically involves communicating complex information to a non specialized audience. So why devote an entire section on defining the field of technical communication? How can we define technical communication?
The answer to this question is that, even after reading about and practicing technical communication, defining technical communication can be tricky; technical communication encompasses many forms, purposes, and genres. The borders and definitions of technical communication are often debated and in flux. Technical communication often involves technology (though not always). Technical communication often involves communicating expert, technical, or highly complex information to a non expert or more general audience. Technical communication often works to convince an audience to take some specific action. Technical communication might define, instruct, inform, or persuade.
Rather than focus on the boundaries of technical communication, it can be useful to focus on what technical communication is trying to do. It might also be useful to define technical communications by looking at a variety of examples, or by considering what technical communication is not (Section 4.2 covers the genre of technical descriptions and definitions, and describes the various ways to extend a definition, including through examples and through negation).
Key Takeaway: What Does Technical Communication Do?
As discussed at various points of this text, technical communication often explains something to a specific audience. While technical communication looks many different ways, it consistently works to do the work of explaining things. It may be useful to define technical communication by what it does rather than how it looks. Sections 1 and 2 of this text emphasize that readers often interact with technical and professional documents in order to understand or do something very specific, may scan or read documents looking for specific pieces of information. Consider how your reader will interact with your document and try to make it as easy as you can. Ask yourself: how can I make this document as readable as I can for my intended or imagined audience? How will my audience likely interact with this document?
As you consider your purpose and your readers, not only content but also style and format become very important. Be sure that you are audience focused, and that you make decisions about document design, language, and content with your specific audience in mind. What does your audience need from you in order to understand the content? What would make things easier on your audience? What specific experience, expectations, and knowledge does your audience bring with them?
To read more about defining the field, take a look at “The Case Against Defining Technical Communication” and consider what the author is describing. How can we define a field that covers so much? Do we define technical communication by genre, by style, or by topic? Does technical communication necessarily need to focus on technology?
To access this article, see the full citation below:
Allen, J. (1990). The Case Against Defining Technical Writing. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 4(2), 68–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/105065199000400204
Technical communication vs. technical writing
We use the term communication in place of writing to more clearly encompass the breadth of forms and modes that we consider technical communication. Consider the example of sheet music above, or an infographic that explains how to properly wear a mask. Or, consider a nurse communicating orally with a patient to address their questions about a prescription. Writing is communication, but not all communication happens strictly through writing.
Today, largely due to advances in telecommunication and digital technologies, technical communication includes more than what we might traditionally consider writing. For example, technical communication often relies not only on text, but also on graphics, images, hyperlinks, video, audio, etc. This course does focus on writing, but it invites you to consider all the ways in which elements beyond or outside of “writing” or “text” impact an audience.
We have already talked about the importance of document design, graphics, and images. One reason to use the term “communication” over “writing” is that communication emphasizes the fact that so many elements impact a text. Often when we think of “writing” we think of things like “grammar, punctuation, spelling” or other elements that impact clear writing. Certainly, these things are important for a technical communicator. But technical communicating–and really writing more generally–encompasses so much more than grammar or spelling. It is important to expand what you consider crucial elements of technical communication, because doing so also helps you to consider how you might reach an audience.
Just like document design, images, and other “non writing” parts of technical communication make a huge impact on a text, document design, images, graphics, and multimodal forms of communication also help to make a text more accessible. Remember that accessibility is always the goal with technical communication; shifting the conversation from “writing” towards “communication” helps to frame the work of a technical communicator in a different way. Focusing on communication can be a more inclusive or flexible approach to technical writing, and this small shift in language might help folks to understand that the job of technical writing includes so much.
Key Takeaway: Writing vs Communication
Throughout this text, the term communication is favored over writing. Communication is preferred because it more fully encompasses the broad range of communication modes and methods used by technical communicators, including written communication, oral communication, video, infographic/images, etc..
Consider how you differentiate between “writing” and “communication.”
- What considerations fall within the scope of technical communications?
- What different ways, modes, tools, etc. can you use to communicate?
Professional communication
Along with reflecting on technical communication, it is worth taking a minute to reflect on the category of professional communication and to understand the relationship between technical and professional communication. Professional communication is a broad term that could refer to any communication done in a professional setting toward professional ends. Or, professional communication might refer to communications among and within specific professions, which are bound by various community codes, patterns, and expectations.
If you search for the difference between technical and professional communication, you’ll find various opinions. Some argue that technical communication must somehow involve technology as its subject matter (this text takes a broader view of technical communication). Some differentiate between the two by defining technical communication as targeting a broader or non specialist audience, while professional communication is more specific to a certain profession or internal to an organization or a field.
These terms–writing, communication, technical, and professional–are not easily defined and do not contain clear borders. While these terms can be differently understood and continually debated, this course encourages you to imagine technical and professional communication in the context of your major and future profession.
How do you imagine professional and technical communication looks in your field?
Activity and Reflection: Technical Communication in Your Field
For this activity, take a moment to consider professional and technical communication in your area of study. What do you think it “looks like” in your field? Try to come up with a scenario in which you will use technical or professional communication. What are some things to consider? What are some “qualities” (clear, simple, concise language; use of graphics or images; responsiveness to audience needs or context and goals;) of that communication situation?
Share what you’ve written with a partner or with a group. Consider differences and similarities among your communication situations. What shared qualities do you notice?
