Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2013

Examining Scientific and Technical Writing Strategies in the 11th Century Chinese Science Book <i>Brush Talks from Dream Brook</i>

Yuejiao Zhang The University of Texas at Arlington

Abstract

This article examines the influential Chinese science book Brush Talks from Dream Brook, written by Shen Kuo in the 11th century. I suggest that Brush Talks reveals a tension between institutionalized science and science in the public, and a gap between the making of scientific knowledge and the communication of such knowledge to the general public. In writing Brush Talks, Shen preserved and popularized grassroots science and technology in the most respected medium of his time—the printed book. In the article, I ask what formal elements of this book reveal about the choices Shen made as a literati author to connect to his primary readers, most of which were middle and lower class lay audiences. As I will argue, he used three approaches that aided him in speaking to the public about science and technology—an ethnographic approach to knowledge, innovative uses of genre, and a straightforward writing style.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2013-10-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.43.4.b
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Zhang (2016)
    Illustrating Beauty and Utility
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (4)

  1. Ding (2010)
    Introducing China's First Comprehensive Technical Writing Book: <i>On Technolog…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Gibson (2008)
    Analogy in Scientific Argumentation
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Ding (2003)
    The Emergence of Technical Communication in China—Yi Jing (I Ching)
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Bump (1985)
    Metaphor, Creativity, and Technical Writing
    College Composition and Communication
Also cites 3 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1515/9780824846954
     ↗
  2. Fu D. (2007). The flourishing of biji or pen-notes texts and its relations to history of knowledge in Song Ch…
     ↗
  3. 10.2190/MFM
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 1 View in citation network →

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