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Unlike many languages that are regulated, more or less, by academic committees, American English changes at “blazing speed.” Words considered slang or mashed together today are likely to appear in well-respected dictionaries tomorrow. As writers, editors, and users of technical and specialized words and jargon, technical communicator are challenged to ensure that the terms used in our deliverables are correct and comprehensible. We can become for our organizations the arbiters of just what is usable, understandable, and acceptable to our various audiences. We can remind our colleagues that the jargon they may use everyday may be gibberish—at least, right now—to customers, and help them decide on a better way to get the message across.

Thea Teich
Teich Technical and Marketing Communications
Cincinnati, Ohio

Biography

For more than 30 years, Thea Teich has worked in the fields of technical and marketing communication for major industries, government agencies, and non-profit educational and research institutions. In 1995, she started Teich Technical and Marketing Communications, which offers technical and marketing communications services, including Web content development, indexing, report development, editing, writing, and marketing consultation to clients ranging from software manufacturers to financial services, from technical publishing to marketing research. Thea’s educational background includes degrees in cellular biology and zoology, specialized communications, and business administration as well as science teaching certification.

Thea Teich served as president of the international Society for Technical Communication (2003-2004), 1st vice president (2003-2003), 2nd vice president (2001-2002), regional director (1998-2001), Southwestern Ohio chapter president (1993-1995), and in several other capacities on the chapter level and on Society-level committees. This article is based on presentations she has made at annual STC conferences and chapter meetings.

Contact information:
Voice: 513 521 8102
Email: Thea@TeichTMC.com