Module II: Technical

Language Development
Prof . Avinash Pawar
Amity University, Maharashtra
 Contents

• Reading Manuals, Instructions, Warnings etc.

• Difference between Literary and Technical reading
 Technical Language

• Refers to written or oral communication that has specialized content.

• Type of English focused on specific terminology, depending on the field where is
going to be applied.
• Uses certain words and terms related to medicine, science, engineering, etc.
• Consists of constructing language, a language planning, specification structure
and a special English with its grammar and vocabulary.
• The product specification for a new microprocessor, a financial presentation by a
senior executive and a design meeting for a new medical device are all examples
of technical communication.
 Types of Technical Writing

1. User Manuals and Assistance Guides

2. Books and Guides by Technical Writers
3. Assembly Manuals 
4. Technical Documents, Reviews, and Reports
5. Medical and Scientific Papers
• As a guidebook that tells you how to operate
something or do something.
• Intended to assist users in using a particular product,
service or application. It's usually written by a
technician, product developer, or a company's
customer service staff.
• Provided in Soft and Hard copy
• Most user guides contain both a written guide and
associated images
• The language used is matched to the intended
audience, with jargon kept to a minimum or
explained thoroughly.
 Contents
The sections of a user manual often include:
 A cover page
 A title page and copyright page
 A preface, containing details of related documents and information on how to navigate the user guide
 A contents page
 A Purpose section. This should be an overview rather than detail the objective of the document
 An Audience section to explicitly state who is the intended audience who is required to read, including
optionals.
 A Scope section is crucial as it also serves as a disclaimer, stating what is out-of-scope as well as what
is covered
 A guide on how to use at least the main function of the system
 A troubleshooting section detailing possible errors or problems that may occur, along with how to fix
them
 A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
 Where to find further help, and contact details
•A glossary and, for larger documents, an index
Technical manuals are
detailed guidelines
to use, operate, and
maintain complex
systems.
 Types of
Manuals
 Service manual — helps technicians and other trained people service, maintain,
and repair equipment. It usually contains information on the problems and
breakages that may occur and guidelines on how to fix them.

 User manual — assists people to use a particular system or device. It provides

instructions for both skilled and unskilled users for setup, operation, and
maintenance of a product. It may have precautions and problem guidelines.

 Operation manual — provides guidance for the staff to perform their functions
correctly and efficiently. It describes what and how should be done, which is
especially important for the quality of goods and services. Moreover, it contributes
to the safety of products and services.
 Training manual — contains instructions to improve the quality of performed tasks and
processes. It is aimed at teaching and upgrading the skills of employees. It can be used as a
reference document in the workplace or by a trainer to revise the material.

 Policy manual — contains policy guidelines, rules, resolutions, and procedures of a

company. It helps the management run the business and make decisions; it regulates the
course of development of a company.

 Organizational manual — describes positions in the company, their responsibilities,

duties, functions, relations. In other words, it defines job descriptions and functions of all
employees in a company, which enables it to perform all the functions in an effective way.

 Administrative practice manual — gives standard methods and procedures for the
personnel to fulfill the functions and cooperate effectively. It may contain instructions for
different departments or guidelines for corporate correspondence. Sometimes, it may
contain instructions on how to improve the knowledge and skills of the employee.
The following reading technique may be adopted in order to increase efficiency in reading and
understanding instructions:

1. Glance rapidly through the sets of instructions in order to identify the nature
and purpose of instructions.
2. Scan any graphic information.
3. Recognise distribution of emphasis and focus point.
4. Skim the instructions to:

• Identify sequence words to understand the coherence and logical structureof instructions
• Identify the number of steps or tasks involved in the procedure
• Identify the main instructions
Recognise transition points in the instructions
Understand the ordering of instructions
5. After scanning and skimming, read the instructions carefully and thoroughly to get all the details.
6. Note the following:
Concentrate on precautions
Understand the safety points
 Reading Instructions & Warnings:

• 1. Warnings
• 2. Caution
• 3. Danger
• 4. Traffic control signs
• 5. Prohibition signs
• 6. Security signs
• 7. Office signs
 Technical communication
• It entails a purposeful transaction between sender and receiver that provides specific information
for practical and specific purposes (informing, instructing, persuading) and is usually geared
towards the needs of a specific audience.
Technical communicators produce a wide variety of documents and other products, such as
• Proposals and requests for proposals (RFPs)
• Technical or research reports
• Documentation records and product specifications
• User guides (step-by-step instructions, procedures, manuals)
• Online help, technical support
• Reference information (encylopedia-style information)
• Consumer literature (information for the public about regulations, safety issues, etc.)
• Marketing literature (product specifications, brochures, promotional literature)
• Technical journalism (found in trade magazines, media releases, etc.)
 Characteristics of Technical Writing

• Purpose: Getting something done within an organization (completing a project, persuading a

customer, pleasing your boss, etc.)
• Your knowledge of the topic: Usually greater than that of the reader
• Audience : Often several people, with differing technical backgrounds
• Criteria for evaluation: Clear and simple organization of ideas, in a format that meets the
needs of busy readers
• Statistical and graphic support: Frequently used to explain existing conditions and to present
alternative courses of action 
 Literary Writing
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
• A style of writing that is used in creative and literary That floats on high o’er vales and
hills,
work; this is the style of writing that is used in fiction.
When all at once I saw a crowd,
• Examples for literary writing includes poems, novels, A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
short stories, dramas etc.
                                
• Difference between literary writing and other styles of         Fluttering and dancing in the
breeze.”                                                  
writing is that the language used in literary writing
                                    
uses many literary figures.
(First stanza from William
• Observe the below-given stanza to observe this Wordsworth’s “I wandered Lonely
As a Cloud”)
feature
 What is Literary Writing?
• Consists of poems, novels, short stories, and dramas.
• The language of literary writing uses several literary figures.
• It uses linguistic expressions of dialect, and obscurity, etc.
• Description of life through the medium of a language
• The focus of literary writing is of subjectivity as to entertain and educate the
reader.
• It amuses the readers through the novel and story readings.
• Motivates the reader’s emotions and personal feelings. Technical writing
promotes the culture and lifestyle of people according to the modern era. Literary
writing increases the emotions of the readers through plot and characters.
• Rests on the characters, dialogues, metaphors, and other figures of speech.
Literary writing converts unresponsive individuals into a thoughtful to care about
for the others and the world.
• Uses the words for the verbal result of their continuity, sound, and vivid
characteristics. Inspirational and directly touch the emotions and feelings of the
readers.
Kinds of Literary Writing

• Novels, short stories, poems

• Plays and musicals
• parodies and satire
• memoirs and thoughtful essays
• Movie and TV scripts
When You Analyze the Literary Purpose in Another's Writing
• Identify the purpose you are analyzing, in this case literary writing.

• Directly identify the characteristics (at least three) of the literary purpose used by the
writer, such as a sense of reality in a work of fiction, a problem or tension, artistic
unity that lends a central idea, figurative or playful language.

• Give an example of each characteristic you identify. Tie the example directly to the
characteristic.

• Provide a summative conclusion that the presence of the characteristics demonstrates

the use of the purpose.
Characteristics of Literary Writing

1. Character-focused narratives
2. Ample symbolism, metaphor, and allegory
3. Advanced vocabulary infused with imagery
4. Ambiguous plot points, including even the work’s conclusion
5. Exploration of larger philosophical themes regarding the human condition
and the will of nature
6. Exploration of larger trends in history and culture
7. Lack of adherence to a fixed plot formula
 Technical Writing Literary Writing

Technical writing is adopted for the technical Literary writing is a language used in imaginative
description of a special subject. work.
Characteristics
Objectivity Subjectivity
Structure
Restricted, more formal, impersonal Free, less formal, personal
Uses
Non-fictional Fictional
Style
Standard format No format
Content
Short Long
Point of view
3rd person 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person
 Technical Writing Literary Writing

• Focuses on special ground subjects

• Focuses on literary work
• Used in non-fictional format
• Used in a fictional format
• Conveys the technical information to support
• Consists of the creative work, inspires,
the people to take action; conversely
entertains evokes to think
• To update and guide the reader about special
things • Focuses on making laugh the reader

• Charms the mind • Charms emotions and feelings.

• Known as objective writing • Known as subjective writing

• To the point , direct language • Evasive , indirect figurative language

• Restricted and bounded in its rules and structure • Free form of writing
• Logical statements, focuses on the targeted • Aesthetic values, writing targeted the general
audience people