Re: Are these words being used?

Subject: Re: Are these words being used?
From: JohnMethod -at- aol -dot- com
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 13:26:53 EST

Hello, the list!

Re: "orderability" and "shippability"

Communication might suffer from both inventing terminology, unless
establishing a strong brand, and ignoring it. HOPEFULLY, the product's sales
and marketing team knows your industry-specific terminology and the needs of
the customer to whom the documentation module is directed.

Example:
Consider the word "doghouse" in oil patch, glass making, and marriage. Two
are industry-specific terms, one is jargon, and none carry the literal
meaning. Well, maybe in the context of marriage.....

The "upside" of industry-specific terms is (i) precision and (ii) a feeling
of inclusion that improves communication and comfort.....IF, and ONLY IF,
used properly.

The "downside" is (i) ambiguity if the words occur in common parlance and
(ii) exclusion, by a very real reduction of "usability", 8^D of the
general audience.

I believe that using industry-specific terms improves communication to a
narrower market, with an attendant loss in the general market. It depends on
what you want to achieve with the product. Grenade, shotgun, rifle....

Parenthetic observation: Some industry-specific terms are equally confused
with common terminology in languages other than English. A newbie, foreign
reader, or outside consultant can get along much better if the glossary or
external reference materials provide vocabulary.

Witness the techie alphabet soup of ODBC, OLEDB, TCP/IP, SCADA, HMI.......
all are productive if wielded properly with the proper audience.... pretty
turn-offish for non-techies, though.

Bye. Shields up.

John G. Boland




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