Scientific Jargon, Good and Bad

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Specialized Language ◽  
Audience Adaptation

Scientific and technical jargon—specialized vocabulary, usually Latinate—plays a vital role in scientific and technical communication. But its proper use continues to be a point of discussion because of our concern with audience adaptation, rhetorical exigence, rhetorical purpose, and ethics. We've focused on teaching students—and on convincing scientists, engineers, and other writers/speakers—to gear their specialized language to the recipients of their communication, to the occasion calling for their communication, to what they wish to accomplish through their communication, and to the ethical goals of safety, helpfulness, empowerment, and truth. These are exactly the sorts of things we should be doing. My contribution to this conversation is a reinforce ment and, I hope, an extension of the argument that we should also be teaching and convincing students and professionals: 1) to fully appreciate what makes jargon either good or bad; 2) to carefully distinguish jargon usage from other aspects of scientific and technical style; and 3) to recognize that in every context, even in communication among experts, jargon should be used judiciously—that is, in the most helpful, least taxing way.

Eportfolios on the Job: The Use of Assessment Eportfolios in the Business and Technical Communication Job Market

2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-474
Author(s):  
Ashley Clayson
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Use Of Assessment

Instructors and administrators in business and technical communication (BTC) programs argue that assessment eportfolios can play a vital role in the success of BTC graduates on the job market. This study explores the use of assessment eportfolios by students, alumni, and employers in BTC. Nineteen interviews were conducted and analyzed for common themes and issues in participants’ experiences. The author found that, while the participants did use assessment eportfolios in the job market, their experiences varied widely. These and other findings are discussed, as well as implications of this study for eportfolio pedagogy.

scholarly journals Term and translation variation of multiword terms

2021 ◽  
pp. 210-247
Author(s):  
Pilar León Araúz ◽  
Melania Cabezas García,
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compound ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Volatile Organic Compound ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Complexity ◽  
Technical Communication ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Term Variation ◽  
Specialized Language

Phraseology is central to specialized language. In scientific and technical communication, multiword terms (MWTs) (e.g. volatile organic compound) are the most frequent type of phraseological units. Rendering them into another language is not an easy task due to their cognitive complexity, the proliferation of different forms, and their unsystematic representation in terminographic resources. This often results in a broad spectrum of translations for MWTs, leading to higher term variation as a result of their composition by two or more constituents. In this study we carried out a quantitative and qualitative analysis of English term variants of MWTs from the environmental domain and their translations into Spanish. The focus was on translation variation and its occurrence in different linguistic resources.

Ultrastructure of Lymphatic Capillaries in the Transport of Colloidal Particles

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 186-187
Author(s):  
L. V. Leak ◽  
J. F. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Colloidal Particles ◽  
Ultrastructural Level ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Thorium Dioxide ◽  
Lymphatic Capillary ◽  
Tissue Area ◽  
Rapid Removal ◽  
Tissue Fluids

The vital role played by the lymphatic capillaries in the transfer of tissue fluids and particulate materials from the connective tissue area can be demonstrated by the rapid removal of injected vital dyes into the tissue areas. In order to ascertain the mechanisms involved in the transfer of substances from the connective tissue area at the ultrastructural level, we have injected colloidal particles of varying sizes which range from 80 A up to 900-mμ. These colloidal particles (colloidal ferritin 80-100A, thorium dioxide 100-200 A, biological carbon 200-300 and latex spheres 900-mμ) are injected directly into the interstitial spaces of the connective tissue with glass micro-needles mounted in a modified Chambers micromanipulator. The progress of the particles from the interstitial space into the lymphatic capillary lumen is followed by observing tissues from animals (skin of the guinea pig ear) that were injected at various time intervals ranging from 5 minutes up to 6 months.

Three-Dimensional reconstruction of isolated centrosomes by automated electron tomography

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 310-311
Author(s):  
M.B. Braunfeld ◽  
M. Moritz ◽  
B.M. Alberts ◽  
J.W. Sedat ◽  
D.A. Agard
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Center ◽  
Nucleation Sites ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction ◽  
Organizing Center ◽  
Resolution Model

In animal cells, the centrosome functions as the primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC). As such the centrosome plays a vital role in determining a cell's shape, migration, and perhaps most importantly, its division. Despite the obvious importance of this organelle little is known about centrosomal regulation, duplication, or how it nucleates microtubules. Furthermore, no high resolution model for centrosomal structure exists.We have used automated electron tomography, and reconstruction techniques in an attempt to better understand the complex nature of the centrosome. Additionally we hope to identify nucleation sites for microtubule growth.Centrosomes were isolated from early Drosophila embryos. Briefly, after large organelles and debris from homogenized embryos were pelleted, the resulting supernatant was separated on a sucrose velocity gradient. Fractions were collected and assayed for centrosome-mediated microtubule -nucleating activity by incubating with fluorescently-labeled tubulin subunits. The resulting microtubule asters were then spun onto coverslips and viewed by fluorescence microscopy.

Asiana Airlines Flight 214

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chow ◽  
Stephen Yortsos ◽  
Najmedin Meshkati
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Aviation Safety ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Flight Crew ◽  
Pilot Performance ◽  
Engineering Designs ◽  
Flight Deck

This article focuses on a major human factors–related issue that includes the undeniable role of cultural factors and cockpit automation and their serious impact on flight crew performance, communication, and aviation safety. The report concentrates on the flight crew performance of the Boeing 777–Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident, by exploring issues concerning mode confusion and autothrottle systems. It also further reviews the vital role of cultural factors in aviation safety and provides a brief overview of past, related accidents. Automation progressions have been created in an attempt to design an error-free flight deck. However, to do that, the pilot must still thoroughly understand every component of the flight deck – most importantly, the automation. Otherwise, if pilots are not completely competent in terms of their automation, the slightest errors can lead to fatal accidents. As seen in the case of Asiana Flight 214, even though engineering designs and pilot training have greatly evolved over the years, there are many cultural, design, and communication factors that affect pilot performance. It is concluded that aviation systems designers, in cooperation with pilots and regulatory bodies, should lead the strategic effort of systematically addressing the serious issues of cockpit automation, human factors, and cultural issues, including their interactions, which will certainly lead to better solutions for safer flights.

A Computer-based Clinical Information System

1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (04) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
S. S. El-Gamal
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Hospital Information System ◽  
Clinical Information System ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Specialized Hospital ◽  
Computer Based

SummaryModern information technology offers new opportunities for the storage and manipulation of hospital information. A computer-based hospital information system, dedicated to urology and nephrology, was designed and developed in our center. It involves in principle the employment of a program that allows the analysis of non-restricted, non-codified texts for the retrieval and processing of clinical data and its operation by non-computer-specialized hospital staff.This Hospital Information System now plays a vital role in the efficient provision of a good quality service and is used in daily routine and research work in this hospital. This paper describes this specialized Hospital Information System.

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