The Value of Linguistics to Technical Authors in a Digital World
http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=F4E7BWBQP27EK56V
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  peer-reviewed

Poon Teng Fatt, James
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
2000

Abstract:

This article aims to expound the importance of a knowledge of linguistics and the theories of human language to a technical author. Linguistics is often seen as a specialised branch of language for language experts. When technical authors communicate, they do need the tools of linguistics to handle the rhetorical grammar and patterns of technical prose. The linguistic features and semanics involved in technical writing also become relevant, as is visual and graphic representation.