Title

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

Authors

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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