Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 1991

Implications of Metaphors in Defining Technical Communication

Charles E. Beck University of Colorado Denver

Abstract

Examining the limitations of some common metaphors for technical communication and exploring new alternatives lead to a new definition of technical communication. In current studies of the field, four metaphors appear dominant through explicit or implicit use: transmitter, channel, balance, and bridge. But each of these metaphors is limited in some way when used to describe the field. These limitations arise from complexity, directionality, or originality of the process. Some alternatives provide a new way of viewing the field: lock, translator, transformer, synthesizer, conductor, and orchestrator. The latter term leads to a tentative definition of the field: Technical communication is the process of orchestrating linguistic, visual, or auditory codes to accommodate information to the user.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1991-01-01
DOI
10.2190/5npu-vhq3-ce6a-tw5f
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Axelrod (2025)
    Improving Proposal Writing by Looking to Information Operations
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Winkle (2024)
    Between the Lines: Visual Euphemism in Technical and Professional Communication…
    Communication Design Quarterly
  3. STRATMAN et al. (1995)
    Risk Communication, Metacommunication, and Rhetorical Stases in the Aspen-EPA S…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Valletta et al. (1995)
    “In-Determinacy” in Science and Discourse: A Rhetoric of Disciplinary Levels
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (21) · 1 in this index

  1. Carliner S. (1989)
    Technical Communication
  2. Emerson R. W. (1960)
    Selections from Ralph Waldo Emerson
  3. Frost R. (1988)
    The Norton Reader
  4. Beardsley M. C. (1967)
    The Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  5. Berthoff A. E. (1981)
    The Making of Meaning: Metaphors, Models, and Maxims for Writing Teachers
Show all 21 →
  1. Barnett G. A. (1985)
    Research in Technical Communication: A Bibliographic Sourcebook, Shannon-Weaver Model, de…
  2. Pauley S. E. (1987)
    Technical Report Writing Today
  3. Blicq R. S. (1986)
    Technically-Write!: Communication in a Technological Era
  4. Society for Technical Communication, Code for Communicators, published quarterly as the last page in Technica…
  5. 10.5465/amr.1984.4279664
     ↗
  6. Barnett G. A. (1985)
    Research in Technical Communication: A Bibliographic Sourcebook
  7. Walters N. J., A Discourse Analysis of Software Documentation: What's Working, University Microfilms, Ann Arb…
  8. Macdonald-Ross M. (1976)
    The Penrose Annual
  9. Dobrin D. N. (1981)
    New Essays in Technical and Scientific Communication: Research, Theory, Practice
  10. (1989)
    Graduate Seminars in Technical Communication
  11. Beck et al. (1990)
    Enthusiasm in technical proposals: verifying a method of lexical analysis
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  12. Beck C., Using Word Processing Research: Options for Outlining, Writing and Rewriting, Maryland English Journ…
  13. Beck C. (1988)
    Word Processing for Technical Writers
  14. Beck C., Workshop in Executive Writing, Issues in Higher Education, 26, 1987.
  15. Beck C. (1986)
    Technical Communication
  16. Beck C. (1985)
    IEEE Transactions in Professional Communication
CrossRef global citation count: 7 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Written Communication May 2026
    Leveraging Human-Centered Design and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Rural Healthcare: Wicked Problems, Design Thinking, and Mutable Methodologies ↗
    Richard Johnson-Sheehan; Thomas Rickert; Paul Thompson Hunter; Adrianna Deptula
    technical communication artificial intelligence
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication May 2026
    The User Experience of Virtual Reality for Longitudinal Writing: A Diary Study of Immersive Graduate Dissertation Composing Experience ↗
    Jason Tham; Rich Shivener; Niveditha Pookkottuvariam; Sarah Riddick
    rhetorical criticism graduate education technical communication archival research empirical research qualitative research
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Visualizing Heat Risk: Infographics, Memorability, and Design ↗
    Preksha Mysore; Kathryn Lambrecht
    technical communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Developing Intercultural Socioemotional Communication Skills: A Hybrid Student Exchange Project Between Kenya, Ireland, and Germany ↗
    Belinda Oechsler; Yvonne Cleary; Sissi Closs
    technical communication professional writing
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    What Video Games Can Tell Us About Interactive Technical Communication ↗
    Emily Kuzneski Johnson
    technical communication multimodality