Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2008

Implicature, Pragmatics, and Documentation: A Comparative Study

David Wright Missouri University of Science and Technology

Abstract

This study investigates the link between the linguistic principles of implicature and pragmatics and software documentation. When implicatures are created in conversation or text, the listener or reader is required to fill in missing information not overtly stated. This information is usually filled in on the basis of previous knowledge or context. Pragmatics, the study of language use in context, is concerned with the situational aspects of language use that, among other things, directly affect implicatures required of the reader. I investigate how two manuals for the same software product can be analyzed on the basis of implicature and pragmatics. One is an original copy of the documentation that came with the product, the other an after-market manual. Results show that the aftermarket manual requires far fewer implicatures of the reader and does a better job of providing pragmatically helpful information for the user.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2008-01-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.38.1.c
Open Access
Closed
Topics
affect and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Wright (2013)
    Communication and Cultural Change in University Technology Transfer
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Willerton et al. (2011)
    Evaluating Applications for an Informal Approach to Information Design: Readers…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (2)

  1. MIREL (1998)
    “Applied Constructivism” for User Documentation
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Raven (1987)
    A Situational Approach: Making Software More Functional
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 2 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1016/S0378-2166(00)00068-0
     ↗
  2. 10.1147/sj.393.0617
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 2 View in citation network →

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