"You will" - Technology, magic, and the cultural contexts of technical communication

    Authors

    K. S. Kitalong

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Bus. Tech. Commun.

    Keywords

    Business; Communication

    Abstract

    Technology is commonly described in magical terms, not only in advertising but also in journalism and technical communication. This article provides some background on the use of magical language in technical contexts, gives examples of magical discourse in technology advertisements and newsmagazine articles, and proposes a technical communication pedagogy of media analysis. The proposed pedagogy involves students in conducting diagnostic critiques of media texts and affords them the opportunity to examine critically their own unwitting use of magical language in technical discourse.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Business and Technical Communication

    Volume

    14

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2000

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    289

    Last Page

    314

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000087982900003

    ISSN

    1050-6519

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