International Consumer Protection: Writing Adequate Instructions for Global Audiences

Teresa Lipus Weyerhaeuser (United States)

Abstract

In 2003, the United States exported nearly $720 billion in goods. Businesses that trade in the global market have a legal and ethical duty to make their products reasonably safe, and technical communicators who write the documentation for those products have a legal and ethical duty to protect international consumers by writing adequate instructions. Writing documentation for products that will be distributed internationally requires not only the ability to communicate clearly, but also awareness of the relevant product liability laws, the cultural variables, and the expectations of international audiences. This article first argues that devoting company resources to produce adequate instructions for international users is both practical and ethical, then provides a brief overview of the consumer protection measures that the top U.S. trade partners have implemented, and finally presents guidelines for developing adequate instructions for international audiences.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2006-01-01
DOI
10.2190/88t5-8mfh-8ma6-qval
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 7 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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