Category: Uncategorized

These maps demonstrate how colonization and imperialism shaped cultural identity.

Source: The most popular second language in each country – INSIDER

One of the things that I know is often discussed is the use of languages around the world, and the American preconception that English is the predominant language of the internet because many speak it as a second language.  While the studies continues to change, here’s the latest one to show what the most common second languages are around the world. Fascinating article and images to view! As the subtitle suggests, some of the second languages are not a surprise if you know a country’s former colonial or imperial history. Some just make sense, like Brazil’s second language is Spanish, but that’s mostly because it’s surrounded by countries whose primary language is Spanish.

Take a look and see.  It’s not so neatly organized, as you’d think.

What do you think? Is this another argument for standardized language when writing documentation? Include your comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom

 

Shelly Davies discusses the death of the formal business voice and the need for conversational content that provides clarity, transparency, and empathy.

Source: The Formal Business Voice is Dead – The Content Wrangler

This is a great guest article from The Content Wrangler.  As the digital age has progressed, the more conversational tone has taken over in order to make communications more user-friendly.  Ms. Davies does a great job talking about the differences between formal business voice and conversational voice in this article.

I would, however, add that I slightly disagree that a formal business tone be abandoned altogether except in highly serious situations.  One of the things that really bothers me in digital communications–or even cold-calls that I receive–is familiar, conversational tones from a stranger. Sometimes, it gets to be TOO informal.  Call me old fashioned, but I think there’s an in-between level whereby you can use a more conversational tone yet keep things sounding (or reading) like a professional. If you sound like a kid trying to hawk goods or get on your good side, that’s a big turn-off for me. If you sound like you mean business without the “fancy” words, then I’ll definitely listen to you or read what you have to say. Finding that middle ground is a little difficult, and it takes practice, but it can be done.  I’d like to think that it’s almost taking a diplomatic tone, if you want to call it that. You speak using words that everyone can understand, but on terms that also been that you are serious and focused on the message at hand.

What do you think about the use of formal business tone versus an informal tone in digital communications, whether it is an email or a webpage? Include your comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom

All or nothing. It seems to be the way of the world. But it’s no way to manage your career. In baseball, a home run is the best thing you can do as a hitter. You take a big swing, you feel th…

Source: All or nothing | Leading Technical Communication

Larry Kunz writes an excellent article today on his blog, which I think reflects my own experiences as well.  The job market has been crazy for several years now, and the one question I’m constantly asking myself is, “What can I learn next? What skill am I missing? What do I need to learn to make myself more viable as a serious job candidate?”  I’ve often made the argument that specialization is not good, but rather being a generalist is–or a specialist in multiple areas. In this article, Larry appears to be making the same argument from his experiences. This is especially important as technical communicators, when the parameters of what technical communication is seems to be constantly shifting around as technology and digital needs change.

I feel that “all or nothing” that Larry describes often. That’s why I’m constantly trying to figure out how to find some new pitching strategies to make me an ace pitcher, so to speak.

What do you think? Generalist or specialist? Include your comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom

Reddit community ‘Data is Beautiful’ created a series of animations comparing subway maps to their actual geography

Source: 15 Subway Maps Compared to Their Actual Geography «TwistedSifter

 

I found this article thanks to my husband’s cousin, who is a world traveler and a map buff.  You should really take a look!

When I took Visual Design courses in grad school, this was an example of how user experience design can make a difference in helping users know how to use the subway–wherever it was. The original London Underground map that kicked it off (I believe it was them) was genius, because the creator realized that creating something that looked more like a grid than the actual geography would be easier for people to understand.  Obviously, this style of design was copied for other metro systems, and it’s been helpful for all these cities.  This article shows the differences between what the UX design maps are versus the real maps of the same metro lines. Fascinating!

What are some other great uses of UX design that don’t mimic the actual thing? Include your comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom