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Subject:RE: When to use the word "curate?" From:"An Tran" <atran -at- bstonetech -dot- com> To:"Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:37:41 -0800
It seems rather self-evident to me that if the term is in regular use within an industry's nomenclature, has specific meaning within that contextual framework, then use of the term -- even if it is rare in conversational speech -- is to be expected and will be widely understood. That said, I'd argue that the obscurity of a term is questionable within the contextual framework of industry nomenclature.
I think that most individuals understand that language happens contextually (hence by thesaurus-substitution tends to render sentences incomprehensible). I have to wonder the quality of work of any writer making use of words they don't understand or in alien context. "To curate" does not mean the same thing as "to procure" or "to appropriate," although they all have different connotations of "gather" or "assemble" or "assert ownership over."
Andy Tran
Associate Management Consultant
Blackstone Technology Group
Mobile: 571-451-4780
atran -at- bstonetech -dot- com <mailto:atran -at- bstonetech -dot- com>
www.bstonetech.com <http://www.bstonetech.com/>
________________________________
From: techwr-l-bounces+atran=bstonetech -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of Lauren
Sent: Wed 12/19/2012 5:26 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: When to use the word "curate?"
On 12/19/2012 10:26 AM, Alec Chakenov wrote:
> Do you think we should ever use this word in documentation?
Sometimes terms, no matter how obscure they are, have a distinct role in
a specific use that requires the use of the obscure term. If the use of
curate really does refer to researching and compiling scientific data it
is used in an industry that requires this specific type of writing, then
the use of the term is necessary. Otherwise, it is just a Latin-based
term that someone is using to try to sound smart or somehow more refined
than the competition.
> It sounds like it has come from Latin, and therefore, will be less understandable.
I think context is necessary to know if the word will be understandable
to the reader. If I saw the term in reference to a writer who is
compiling and summarizes various news, then I would think the use of the
term is nonsense. I would only use the term curate in documentation
where the audience regularly uses the term curate.
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