Re: What to do???

Subject: Re: What to do???
From: Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 10:39:51 -0800




Wade Courtney wrote:

I just started a job at a new company in Sept. Some of the engineers
are Russian and they have problems with their English. Ok, no worries,
but my boss has given them instructions to not worry about grammar,
spelling, or anything else because I will fix it. Editing these
documents puts me on the edge of insanity and I have to take a break
nearly every half a page. How can I tactfully handle telling my boss
how I feel?



One of my previous jobs was editing scientific articles for a university research institute, of which about a third of the researchers were Russian, Polish, Japanese or Chinese. I admired them for their research skills and determination to write meaningful documents in a foreign language. Most did okay, but their use of the English language was always influenced by their first language. Sometimes what they put on paper had a far different meaning to someone who was born into the English language than someone who wasn't. (I found the Japanese and Chinese had the most difficulty, probably because their language is so different from any of the Germanic languages.) Telling your boss how you feel really won't change that unless you have a possible solution that won't upset the engineering staff and won't cost the company more money. After all, you are the "technical writer" and that means your job is to take in raw input and produce finished materials. I've found that creating a rapport with the engineering staff and developing a good sense of humor work wonders in these cases. In any case, I would lighten up and not let the poor grammar, spelling, etc. get to you. Enjoy the fact that you are working and lay in a large supply of red pens.

--

Al Geist, Geist Associates
From Concept to Completion
Technical Writing, Publishing, Video, Web Design, Graphic Arts
541-471-8800 (Cell) 541-218-1252
www.geistassociates.com al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com <mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
"When the situation is absolutely hopeless, you have nothing to worry about."
Compliments of The Monkey Wrench Gang




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What to do???: From: Wade Courtney

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