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What is the essential knowledge that all technical communicators must possess? It surely isn't knowledge of FrameMaker, RoboHELP, or Word, despite the fact that job advertisements, at least in the U.S., seldom list any other specific knowledge as a prerequisite for candidates.
As I've said before in this column, 1 believe that what sets technical communicators apart from word processing operators and desktop publishers is not our ability to use software but rather our ability to communicate technical information effectively. That ability depends on our knowledge of communication concepts and techniques, and on our knowledge of one or more technical domains. It is this knowledge of communication and of technical subjects that constitutes the body of knowledge that differentiates our profession from others.
The term body of knowledge has a very specialized meaning in many professions. It is used to define essential information of which practitioners must demonstrate mastery to be certified as professionals in that field.
Now I don't intend to get into a debate about certification here. That's a question that evokes strong reactions pro and con, a question that the Society for Technical Communication and its members have wrestled with several times in the last 25 years. Regardless of where you come down on that issue, however, you ought to support the definition of an essential body of knowledge if you're serious about being considered a professional by those with whom you work.
KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNICATION CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES
Perhaps it's obvious, but I think that the most significant component of the technical communicator's background is a mastery of communication concepts and techniques.
Among others, these skills include writing, editing, visual communication, multimedia, document design, audience and task analysis, usability testing of products and documents, and interpersonal communication. The core knowledge underlying these areas is based on a body of theory and research developed over more than 2,000 years. And no matter what your specific job title or area of specialization within the technical communication field, you must attain a degree of mastery of these skills to be an effective professional.
When technical communication began to develop as a profession in the defense and aerospace industries after World War II, technical writers and editors were typically technical experts first and communicators second....