1 Introduction TP1 Introduction TP.doc

Chapter 1 Introduction to Technical Communication What is technical communication (or TC for short)? To put it in a simple way, TC means the effective exchange of information at work工作中的有效信息交流. To make it clearer, TC is the art and craft of communicating technical information appropriately and persuasively to intended audiences, in complex contexts, and for particular purposes. 专业交际学是按照特定的目的，针对具体的对象，在复杂的交际环境下，恰当地、有说服力地进行专业信息交流的艺术和技巧。 Although technical communication has existed as long as people have recorded information, it developed rapidly as a profession only during the second half of the twentieth century. TC was initially defined as writing that dealt primarily with scientific and technical information, but today subject matter is no longer sufficient to define TC. In fact, TC now concerns with the effective information exchange not only in the fields of natural sciences and technology, but also in the fields of social sciences, including politics, economy and culture, even the more traditional art and literature. Importance of Technical Communication The rapid advancement of science and technology has brought great changes to human life ever since the second half of the last century. Formerly, technology was mainly used by engineers and experts, but now non-technical occupations are more and more involved in technology. Office managers, political activists, small business owners, salespeople, journalists and many others have all seen how technology transform their day-to-day activities. Nowadays computers and computer controlled machines are being used in every profession that virtually every person in every field has to learn to use certain kind of technology. Along with the rapid development of technology is the explosion in the amount and variety of technical documents, combined with the fact that they are being read by a broader audience than ever before. Whether to make important business or personal decisions or merely to stay informed, the avera