Chapter Two: Technical

Communication
• Technical communication is one
of the areas of communication.
According to Richard Johnson-
Sheeham: “ Technical
communication is a process of
managing technical information
in ways that allow people to take
action.”
 In the words of Mike Markel
technical communication is the
process of creating, designing and
transmitting technical information.
As a result people can easily
understand it.
 The US-based Society for Technical
Communication highlights- “
Technical communication as the
process of gathering information
from the experts and presenting it
to an audience in a clear, easily
understandable form.”
Technical communication is a means to
document or convey scientific,
engineering, or other technical
information
• Technical communication jobs include
the following:
• Information architect
• Technical editor
• Technical illustrator
• Technical trainer
• Technical translator
• Technical Writer
• Usability expert
• User experience
designer
• User interface
designer
• API writer (An API writer is a technical
writer who writes documents that
describe an application programming
interface (API)
• It includes writing or speech, involves
technical subject, it has a clear
purpose, and a targeted audience.
• It can be easily assessed, understood
and used.
• Technical communication, in writing
or speech, involves technical subject,
has a clear purpose, and a targeted
audience.
• It could involve providing instructions
about how to do something.
Evolution of Technical Communication
• Greek period
• Renaissance(1400-1600AD)
• Samuel Chandler Earle is
generally considered as the
father of technical writing.
• The first computer related
technical manual appeared
in 1949 (Joseph wrote
Technical Writing
• It got further pace with the expansion of
technical industries particularly electronics
and computers as various government
legislations made it compulsory for
organizations to produce certain technical
documents as part of ensuring standards to
meet public obligations.
• The rapid spread of Websites, the
expansion of telecommunication, the
gradual consolidation of the private sector
and NGOs have widened the scope of
technical communication
• Ayurved (medical treaties),Manusmriti(the
law of Manu), Pagodas and Chaityas style
of building of Arniko as well Lekhandas in
village, Vaidhyas practiced technical
communication in Nepal
Forms of Technical
Communication
• Oral
• Written
(Emails, voicemails to
teleconferencing,
videoconferencing, webinars
(Web-based
seminar, Webinar is a
presentation, lecture,
workshop or
seminar that is transmitted over the
Web) and social media hook-ups(Meet
up, or making a connection between
people)
Merits and demerits of Oral
communication
Merits
• Time saving: When action is required to be
taken immediately it is best to transmit a
message orally.
• Cost savings: Cost is involved in any
communication. When the communication is
needed within the organization and if it and is
completed in orally,
it has not needed any paper, pen or stamp or
computer. So it saves the money of the
organization.
• More powerful: Speech is a more
powerful means of persuasion and
control. Therefore executives often
prefer to transmit messages orally.
• Effectiveness: With the help of variations
in the tone, pitch and intensity of voice,
the speaker can convey shades of
meaning. This factor also contributes to
the effectiveness of oral communication.
• Immediate feedback: The speaker can
get immediate feedback on whether it is
creating a favorable impression on the
receiver or whether the receiver will
protest or whether the receiver has
receiver has clearly understood his
meaning or is feeling perplexed or
baffled and he can mold and adjust his
message accordingly.
• More suitable: The employees felt more
suitable when the message transmits in
orally. They get an opportunity for
feedback and clarification.
• A relationship develops: Oral
communication is mostly carried out helps
to promote friendly relations between the
parties communicating with each other.
• Flexibility: By the demand of the situations
oral instructions can be changed easily and
for these cases maintain the formalities are
not necessary. So it is very much flexible
and effective.
• Easiness: It is so easy method of
communication. It needs little preparation
to send a message.
No need of pens, pencils and other writing
equipment’s which are needed in written
communication.
• Correction of errors: If any error is expressed
at the time of oral communication. It was
possible to rectify at that time or within a very
short time.
• Informal communication: In oral
communication, no need to maintain such
formalities which are needed in written
communication. So it is easy and helpful to
any organization.
• Motivation: In oral communication
system, top executives and sub ordinates
staff can sit face-to-face and exchange
their views directly, so sub-ordinates are
motivated day by day.
• Special applications: Oral communication
is more helpful in communicating
messages to groups of people at
assembly meetings etc.
• Maintaining secrecy: Interested parties
of oral communication can maintain the
secrecy of messages easily.
 Demerits
• No record
• Less authentic
• Expensive
• Distortion of the word: Inaccuracy:
Limited use.
• Probability of omitting main subject:
• speaker.
• No legal validity:
• Late decision:
• Less important
• Lack of secrecy
• Defective:
• Creates misunderstanding:
Merits of Written document
• Effective communication: 
• Maintaining image: 
• Proper information: .
• Less distortion possibility: 
• No opportunity to misinterpret: 
• Controlling tool: 
• Easy to verify: 
• Others:
Demerits of Written
• Costly in production and delivery
• Involves paperwork
• Burden
• Required skilled manpower
• Impersonal
• Response is not spontaneous
 Domains of Technical
Communication
The practice of technical communication is
much wider, covering disciplines as diverse:
• as mathematics,
• social sciences,
• social studies,
• politics and law,
• literature and creative writing,
• journalism and media studies,
• and visual and performing arts
• Science and technology based topics are
informational and procedure based
• Marketing and business are more
promotional and persuasive
• Every professional requires a common
technical communication to set the dialogue
with the people of diverse field.
 Types of Technical Communication

1. Mails/Correspondence: Business,
Official Professional, Others
2. Documentation/Records: Meetings,
Minutes, Lecture notes etc.
• Forms/Recipents: Templates, logs,
Fill-out forms, Survey
questionnaires, application forms
,evaluation form, progress records
forms.
4. Planning: Meeting agenda, event
schedule business plan, action plan, lesson
plan cist estimates.
5. Procedures/Description: procedure for
activities, mechanism, products, protocol,
catalogues overviews
6. Instructions/ Manuals and Guides: user
guide, operation guide, repair manuals
7. Proposals/Agreements/ Policies: Call for
proposal, business plan, Terms of references
8. Oral/Presentation/ Group Work:
9. Reports: field visit report, justification
report, survey report
10. Evaluation: monitoring and evaluation
report, product comparison
11. Promotion/ Outreach/ Informative:
pamphlets, advertisement, press
conferences
12. Design/ Technology specific: Using visual
aids, Photoshop
 Approaches of Technical
Communication
• Descriptive
• Instructional
• Persuasive
• Evaluative
Principles of Effective Technical
Communication
• Know Your Purpose
• Know your audience
• Be simple, clear and concise in language
• Be specific, concrete, and accurate in
details
• Adopt appropriate approach, format, style
and tone
• Show, just don’t tell
• Adhere to ethical and legal principles, and
respect cultural sensitivities
• Make your communication accessible,
relevant and easy to use
• Show, just don’t tell
• Adhere to ethical and legal principles, and
respect cultural sensitivities
• Make your communication accessible,
relevant and easy to use
• Collaborate
• Be prepared to correct errors promptly and
take on challenges
• Be creative
 Importance of Technical
Communication
• Personal Value
• Work place Communication
• Complex Environments
 Career prospect
Technical Communication may be the right
career for you, If you are:
• Sociable
• Outgoing
• People oriented
• Able to organize plan and work under
deadline
• Skilled in writing
• Interested in technical products
• Good at negotiating