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Subject:Re: writing for non-native speakers of English From:Bill Burns <BillDB -at- ILE -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 9 Sep 1997 13:52:48 -0600
When I first started at Micron as a contract employee, I job was to
rewrite the existing operation procedures for my department at an
eighth-grade level, for the most part to facilitate their use by
non-native English speakers. Typically, I came closer to Buck's 4th
grade reading level. In any case, the non-native English speaking
operators then understood the instructions well enough to tell me that
the procedures were horribly inaccurate. Needless to say, one job led to
the next. :-)
Seriously, though, I think Buck is pretty realistic if you're writing
for an audience with less experience with technical language. However,
if you're writing for a group of non-native speakers who have a bit more
exposure to English, the expectations could be much higher. In either
case, you can take some steps to enhance the readability.
In general, avoid using cultural-specific idioms and metaphors. Avoid
complex sentence structures that require a lot of embedded clauses.
Avoid strings of multiple nouns as modifiers and other compound nouns
unless they're well recognized terms. <fe>Don't use long words when a
diminutive one will do. </fe>
Bill Burns
Technical Writer
ILE Communications Group
billdb -at- ile -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Buck and Tilly Buchanan [SMTP:writer -at- WF -dot- NET]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 1997 12:30 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Re: writing for non-native speakers of English
>
> Here's the Buck way:
>
> In one of my previous lives, I taught ESL, English as a Second
> Language.
> In doing so, I became proficient in communicating with, for want of a
> better term, ESL Readers.
>
> I found it quite easy then, to write with ESL Readers as my audience.
>
> Essentially, it means writing to a F-K RGL of about four.
>
> Try a Junior College course in ESL or Teaching ESL.
>
> ----------
>
> Buck Buchanan
>
> ~~
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