Definitions – Buckentine and Coughlin
This chapter describes our need for definitions, tells us where to use certain definitions and how to construct certain kinds of definitions.
The importance of using correct definitions is most evident in speeches and articles among other types of presentations. Some words have multiple meanings and some members of the audience might not be prepared to make that distinction.
The presenter needs to make it clear which meaning of the word he or she is using.
Complexity of meaning
Some meanings and definitions have different levels of complexity, it depends on the audience. Take this example from the book. One definition is from a normal dictionary – the kind used in school or at home – the other is from a technical dictionary:
Volt – standard unit of electromotive force; after Alessandro Volta, an Italian electrician.
Volt – the derived SI unit of electric potential defined as the difference in potential between a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one amp…
Symbols
Technical communication is not always written out or spoken. Symbols are used a lot in math, chemistry and physics like the ‘conservation of matter and energy equation’ (E=mc2). Mathematicians and chemists would have no problem identifying this symbol, but other people would not understand it. That’s where you add a definition.
Construction of definitions
Ask yourself questions about the word before you define it. Here are some examples:
What does it look like? What are its physical features? What is it similar to? How does it differ from other objects? What are distinguishing features? What does it do? How does it work? Who uses it?
Etymology is questions that are anticipated. For example: How did this object get its name? How old is this word? Where did this word come from? Every word comes from some origin and is presented in the linguistic origin. Etymological information is found in dictionaries or specialized reference books. When looking up a word in a dictionary you would find it in brackets usually before the definition. They are a useful part of a definition and benefit the audiences understanding of the meaning of the word.
History- Presenting historical background about the development and use of the term or subject puts its current meaning into perspective. The use of historical background anticipates questions like: What are the subject’s origins? How long have objects existed? How has the history affected modern development?
Examples- Using specific examples to illustrate the application of a term effectively expands a definition. Defining a concept with an example can be particularly effective.
Placement of Definition- Five choices for placing and incorporating definitions
Glossary- mini-dictionary usually located at the beginning or end of a technical document. Glossaries are very helpful when a person is unfamiliar with a word. When there is a glossary the words that are defined in the back of the book are marked in some way like bold, italics, or asterisks.
Information Notes and Sidebars- Readers that need extended information but put off to the side so that not everyone has to read the information.
Information notes- define a term or concept; they also enable writers to provide examples, cite related studies, and explain tangential concepts, present possible explanations. Usually found at the bottom of a page with a source or reference page.
Sidebars- provide more elaborated information than footnotes.
Appendixes- Lengthy documents intended for readers with widely varying backgrounds often have difficulty appealing to the entire range of readers. Technical experts can be bored or offended if the documents have too much elementary material. Readers already familiar with the material can glance at the reference to the appendix in the text and continue reading but those who need the review find it helpful.
Online Help-designed to provide users with information immediately in several different formats. Examples: an alphabetic index of all help topics available to users of this software. Also a list of frequently used topics that often saves time. An on screen box that provides hints and wizards. Finally it has a searchable database to answer questions.
There are two main components that make up a computer system, Hardware and software. Most visible is hardware which is a central processing unit and software which you can not see is in the computer. Most people don’t focus on the software as much as they should.
Backup storage: copies of data files, used as a safeguard against damage or loss.
Computer system: A computer plus software plus one or more pieces or peripheral equipment.
CPU-The part of a computer that performs calculations and processes date according to the instructions specified by the software.
Hardware- The computer itself.
Peripheral equipment- Input-output and date storage devices; printers, keyboards, CRTs, remote terminals, and tape and disk drives.
Software- The programs or instructions that tell the computer how to respond to specific user commands.
23 comments:
The first thing I really thought about while reading chapter 14 was about the complexity of meaning. Meanings can be taken differently in many ways; I think it is all about how a person preserves it to be. Sometimes meanings can be skewed by writings, or if something is wrote in sarcasm. Writings are not always the best way to show emotion. Like on face book or messaging, maybe one cannot tell if you are joking or serious so they show the little face icons to help.
I guess the first thing that stuck out to me in this chapter was definitions and symbols. I know that it is a very imoportant thing in the construction industry to understand a variety of vocabulary and a nearly infinate number of symbols and abbreviations. One of the most important things is that when you are giving a speech or writing a document is to define in some way the more difficult vocabulary terms. Also, your definition should fit the audience. I remember when I was younger, some text books did not do a very good job doing this. I felt sometimes looking at definitions was not enough because I did not understand it after reading it.
I was very surprised at the difference in definition between the dictionary and a technical dictionary. I believe that both of the definitions should have been the same in both books. This chapter does a great job showing a person how to give a type of 'background' for the word. Definitions should be completely defined correctly in order to show the real meaning. Especially when writing a document because sometimes people may take a word for a different meaning and that could be potentially dangerous.
After reading this chapter, a few different things stuck out to me. For one is that there is a dictionary definition and a technical definition. The technical defination is a much longer definition and usually used larger words and or symbols. I know in my construction field, being able to view things through symbols and complex definition is a large part of the business, and if you were not able to speculate thee different things you would be in trouble.
I have a deep admiration for whoever came up with glossaries and appendices. I do not even know how many times I have had to reference either one of those things. Just last week I had to refer to the appendix in my chemistry book to look some complex calculus operations which we needed to know for our calculations in class. I only took pre-calculus here at school so it has been a few years since I studied calculus and I didn’t remember exactly how to do it and therefore needed the appendix to re-learn the concepts.
This chapter gave a lot of insight on how to gear documents and presentations toward your audience even when they are not experts in the information given. I found working with definitions very important when doing my presentation in this class. The article I presented had several definitions that, when presented using the exact terms given in the article, would have only made sense to those interested or educated in nutrition related fields. When giving my presentation, I tried to give the same definitions in terms that the students in this class would understand. We only have a small group of students in this class who would understand the technical definitions of the terms I gave. I did not want everyone else to be lost. I wanted them to get something out of my presentation as well.
after reading this chapter i realized the differnce between a technical dictionary and a normal vocabulary dictionary. As a Construction Management major you have to be able to read a document or a set of plans and know all of the symbols and abbreviations. If you don't know what these different symbols mean your project will not turn out the way that the homeowner had in mind and they will probably make you change it so that it is right.
This chapter talked about definitions, I know that I have read textbooks that it seems like I need a dictionary next to me to make it through the chapter. I find this chapter helpful when it comes to making my presentation for this class. It gave me information about when to use and where to place definitions. It also helped me because it reminds me that not everyone in the class will know all of the terms that I know and that it will be needed to put in some definitions and explain some terms.
This chapter gives people an idea of how confusing definitions can be. Just because I have an idea of what a word might mean doesn't mean that the other person uses the word the same way. One advantage I have over some is that when I was in eighth grade my teacher made us learn etymology. It really helped me out through highschool and parts of college being able to break down words that I have never seen before and being able to have an idea of what the word is meant to be used for. This chapter shows though that that won't always work. I do feel that etymology is really cool how words were made up.
Definitions and examples help me to understand things. In many ways definitions are used to say what they are, and examples help to fully explain it. Examples give a firm understanding to the reader as he/she could be confused. Words commonly have several meanings, with the appropriate examples the best understanding takes place. On cars several different words need good examples to fully underestand it. I am sure that in my report i am going to define several words so the auidence has a good understanding.
Chapter 14 has given me something to think about when I'm writing a paper or giving a presentation. Telling the audience the correct meaning of a word that explains what your talking about is very important. I know that in my major there are many words with different meanings that I didn't even know exsisted. In class on monday I mentioned the word lean and that would be something maybe mentioned about hamburger for for the leannes of the meat, but lean in manufacturing is entirely different. Lean in manufacturing is reducing waste and making a larger profit.
Definitions are very important in technical articles and textbooks. They remove multiple meanings a reader may have. Definitions are also one ways of understanding the text. They are like visuals but in words. When defining a word, the author reminds as us that we should ask ourselves first the origin of the word (etymology), the history and examples that relates to the word. Most of the Science textbooks give you the origin of the word if it is from Latin. For example the word cytokinesis a Latin word which means the division of a cell during mitosis into two. Also in the back of biology textbooks there is a glossary that contains extra definitions. These glossaries are very important for students who need extra information.
Chapter 14 talked about definitions, symbols, examples, glossary, sidebars ...all this things that we usually find in many school textbooks for example Chemistry, these are printed in such way the reader has a more better understanding of what the writer is trying to portrait. After reading and then going into examples, sidebars or real life stories that connect to the reading makes a lot easier the material to understand, this are very useful that is why we find them in almost every book. I’m taking a chemistry class and the only thing I can say is that definitions are essential in each chapter, before even reading the chapter if I go through the definitions I can have a brief explanations of what the chapter is going to be about.
Definitions are very important in technical articles and textbooks. They remove multiple meanings a reader may have. Definitions are also one ways of understanding the text. They are like visuals but in words. When defining a word, the author reminds as us that we should ask ourselves first the origin of the word (etymology), the history and examples that relates to the word. Most of the Science textbooks give you the origin of the word if it is from Latin. For example the word cytokinesis a Latin word which means the division of a cell during mitosis into two. Also in the back of biology textbooks there is a glossary that contains extra definitions. These glossaries are very important for students who need extra information.
In my major, definitions are very important. We are constently learning new definitions in many subjects related to my major. When are involved with anyting to do with measurements and units, you need to know what each unit is and the significance of the unit as it relates to the problem or measurement. Another type of definition that I have to deal with fairly often is when I use AET for my major when people ask. It is commonly used within the program because it is short and easy say. Outside of the program I have to make sure I define what AET stands for.
Chapter 14 reminded me of the technical terms use in computer. Computer terms tend to be acronym because the full name is long. An example, Digital Subscriber Lines is the full name for the acronym DSL. There are also terms that are use in the computer field that has a totally different meaning to the mainstream meaning. An example, a register in computer term, is a high-speed storage space inside the CPU (central processing unit). Register in common term is making an entry into a book, list, or record, or a book that records events. Also, in computer, you will heard the word registry. Register and registry sound similar but both should never be confuse as similar. Registry is an entirely different thing compare to register. Registry is a database use by the Windows operating system to store configuration information.
This chapter makes some excellent points in that definitions and explanations are very useful in helping the reader understand what you are saying. I know for one example in some articles they give the abbreviations such as NATA, or ACSM, and these mean nothing to most people unless they have knowledge of it. I think side notes or at least explaining and defining or writing out what it means first then using it over and over again so the reader can look back at what it means if they forget. I know in medical areas shortening up what is said is very important and quick. The areas I have worked I have had to ask many times what certain things mean and sometimes it is inconvenient.
I love when my text books have sidebars and glossaries it makes it easier to understand because usually the sidebars pull content from the readings to explain and the glossary is just the direct definition. I think knowing the difference between a standard definition and a technical definition is important. Knowing the proper meanings of things is huge in everything we do because a miss understood word could easily cause lots of problems down the line.
This chapter made me think of my Southern Women Writers class. In this class, we have to write one page papers on what we just read, and make a presentation. In the paper, if the topic we are talking about is not general knowledge, we have to define the terms. This can be tricky, since some discourse communities have different general knowledge. For example, the term "grace" is used a lot in this class because we read a lot of stories by Flannery O'Conner. However, this term is understood differently in different religions. Thus, when we are making an argument, we have to define the term in the way we are percieving it.
This chapter was interesting to me because I thought it was very true-how we need definitions. It is very important to know and be able to explain definitions accurately and be able to explain them if they are complex and have many aspects to them. Especially in the professional world as well as in college when you are writing a paper or presenting an idea or topic it is necessary to know the correct definitions in order to enhance your project.
This chapter was very helpful in explaining how definitions differ in how they are used in different ways. In my media writing class we were given a book on how many words mean something in one career but a very different meaning in another. This chapter went through what the book explains so I thought it was neat that this book had a chapter about it. I thought the part about the construction of definitions was very helpful.
Technical definitions compared to a dictionary definition can be very different from on another, so it would be important to a technical writer to put an in page definition if you want the reader to know what definition you are discussing. I think back to working in the computer department at Best Buy where I would have to describe how a given computer would be beneficial to the customer.
After reading this chapter i realized the difference between a technical dictionary and a normal vocabulary dictionary. As a AET major you have to be able to read a document or a set of plans and know all of the symbols and abbreviations. If you don't know what these different symbols mean your project will not turn out the way that the manufacturer had in mind and they will probably make you change it so that it is right.
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