Reading Comprehension-1 (assignment 1)

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

EXERCISE 1: READING COMPREHENSION

In communication, the ‘audience’ is the person or group of people whom you expect to read your information. Even though writers do not know exactly who will read their documents they can usually define and intended audience as technical, semi technical or non- technical.

Technical audience

The technical audience includes practitioners in your field; those with technical experience and training, such as technicians and engineers. A technical audience understands fundamental concepts and jargons without definitions or background information. Readers expect the writer to use technical language efficiently and appropriately. For this audience, writers use technical terms and precise data to convey information.

Semi technical audience

This type of audience has some technical training or works in the industry, but not directly in the field, such as those working in related departments or those with training in related technical areas. This might even include personnel in marketing, finance or administration of a technical company. The semi technical audience needs some explanation of concepts, abbreviations and jargon. Writers use technical terms only if they are common in the company or industry. For this audience, you might provide an orientation to the subject and explain or interpret the terms and information.

Non technical audience

The last type of audience is a general public, and unknown audience, or any combination of technical, semi technical and non technical readers, including customers, clients and patients. It might also include upper management- a group that is uninvolved with the technical activities, but that must have enough information to make decisions for the company. This audience expects a clear organization that progresses from the background to the new information, with examples or illustrations to explain points that may be confusing.

For this audience, writers provide the most comprehensive treatment of the subject, such as common terminology, simple language, free of jargon and technical data, a full background and orientation to the subject, and a complete discussion of the main points. To simplify difficult concepts, writers often compare technical processes to more familiar ones through analogy and metaphors.

Questions:

1)      Define ‘audience’ as it applies to technical communication.

2)      How does a writer adapt himself/herself to a technical audience?

3)      What types of people constitute a non-technical audience?

4)      Why do the writers need to explain or interpret the terms for a semi-technical audience?