To: Nancy Myers

From: Townsend Holubasch

Date: April 15, 2021
Subject: APLED 121-Chapter 5 Summary

CHAPTER 5
AUDIENCE RECOGNITION

Audience Recognition
• Knowledge of Subject Matter
o Know who you are talking to and their knowledge of the material. Know if they
are a:
1. High tech peer (Well informed on the information, or work in the field of
study, that the topic is in.)
2. Low tech peer (Somewhat informed on the topic, or work in a somewhat
similar but different field of study.)
3. Lay Audience (completely uninformed on the information, and/or work in
a completely different field of study from the topic.)
4. Combination of the three, or Multiple Audiences (A diverse audience with
members of all three audience types.)
• Writing for Future audiences
o Writing in such a manner to make sense to the readers in the future, they will
need:
1. Clarity
2. Background Information
3. Defined Terms
Defining terms for Audiences
• Defining Terms Parenthetically
o Rather than writing C.I.A, write CIA (cash in advance) or cash in advance (CIA).
• Defining Your Terms in a Sentence
o Use term, type, and distinguishing characteristics, when defining a term with a
sentence.
• Using Extended Definitions of One or More Paragraphs
o When providing extended definitions use:
1. Term, type, and distinguishing characteristics
2. Examples
3. Procedures
4. Descriptions
• Using a Glossary
 o If terms are not defined parenthetically in a sentence or in a paragraph one
should do so in the glossary.
• Providing Pop-Ups and Links with Definitions
o Pop up screens are good for online help/definitions.
Audience Personality Traits
Knowing your Audiences personality enables one to best adjust the tone, visual aids,
and writing style.
Biased Language—Issues of Diversity
One must keep in mind that their audience is diverse. Therefore, they must avoid using
language that favors only one people group or culture.
Multiculturalism
• The Global Economy
o Inside of a global market the writer needs to write clear and concise in case it
needs to be translated to prevent confusion.
• Cross-cultural Workplace Communication
o Language barriers pose many problems for the writer/speaker. Questions to ask
one’s self are:
1. Will each language version be identically in content and relatability?
2. Will the first language version suggest advantages to investors over
translations?
3. Are all translations carefully prepared according to tone, style, and
content?
4. Is each translation tested for usability and accuracy?
o Working multicultural teams requires an understanding of the team members to
do this one needs to know the countries, verbal and nonverbal communication,
management styles, decision making procedures, sense of time and place, local
values.
o Multicultural problems are not only international but can be found in one’s own
nations, this is called cross cultural communication.
Guidelines for Effective Multicultural Communication
• Define Acronyms and Abbreviations
o Acronyms and abbreviations will most likely not make sense to an uninformed
audience and will need to be defined.
• Avoid Jargon and Idioms
o The means of jargons and idioms will most likely be lost in translation and should
be avoided.
• Distinguish Between Nouns and Verbs
o Some words can be translated as both a noun and a verb. The writer should be
clear on how they mean each word.
o This can be particularly obvious inside of computer terms:
 1. File
2. Scroll
3. Paste
4. Boot
5. Code
6. Help
• Watch for Cultural Biases/Expectations
o Many colors and images have different means to different cultures that the
writer may be communication to.
o Be certain that the words and graphics you are using do not appeal only to your
cultural bias.
• Be Careful When using Slash marks
o Slash marks can be unclear as to their meaning, instead use conjunctions such as
and, and or to be clear.
• Avoid Humor and Puns
o Puns and humor are not universal and should be avoided to be clear.
• Realize That translation may take more or less space
o Both formatting and translation will impact available space in a document and
may need worked around.
• Avoid Figurative Language
o Use precise words rather than a figure of speech to describe exactly what you
are meaning to say.
• Be Careful with Number, Measurements Dates, and Times
o There are a lot of ways measurements, dates, and times are written around the
world. To avoid confusion:
1. Write out dates completely
2. Tell the reader what standard of measurement you are using
3. Tell the reader what scheme of time presentation you will use
4. Use multiple formats
5. Avoid vague words
6. Be aware of different international work schedules
• Use Stylized Graphics to Represent People
o A live photo of people may offend some audiences, instead use simple abstract
stick figures. Use neutral black and white color, and avoid depicting race, skin
color, hairstyles, or gender.
Avoiding Biased Language
• Ageist Language
o It is best to avoid referring to age at all, but if it must be used avoid terms like
“elderly” and instead use “people over 70.”
• Biased Language About People with Disabilities
 o One should avoid referring to a person’s disability but if it must be done do so
without negative characterizations.
• Sexist Language
o To avoid using sexist language one should not:
1. Ignore women or treat them as secondary
2. Use stereotyped assumptions: such as men’s jobs vs women’s jobs
3. Use gender specific pronouns, instead use neutral plural pronouns.
Audience Involvement
• Personalized Tone
o Write with an understanding that another person will be reading this, using
pronouns to give a personalized voice.

1. “Your, You”: Pronouns used for speaking directly to the reader

2. “We, Us, Our”: Used for multiple audiences
3. “I, Me, My”: Speaks to the writer’s involvement
• Reader Benefit
o Another way to involve your reader, is to explain to them the benefits of your
technology, product, or service. This will motivate them by giving them what
they want or need.
The Writing Process at Work
• Prewriting
o Outline/Draft
• Writing
o Rough draft
• Rewriting
o Final draft