In message <of35a0fcb2.82250eff-on8625763a.005f25cd-8625763a.005f5...@amat.com>, dated Wed, 23 Sep 2009, [email protected] writes:
>Thanks for the "translation", John. The regulation text now makes some >sense. I wish "they" would publish a guide that explains it as clearly >as you have. It probably wouldn't help. I'm going to write a frank explanation. May of the writers are not native English speakers, but have learned English to a very high standard. However, something other than 'learning' is required to see places where doubt could arise and more clarity is needed. A good instruction-book writer gains a comprehensive knowledge of the product and then mentally puts that all aside and looks at it as if he/she had just bought and unpacked the product. Quite often a writer may find a bug in the product: 'If I press 'OK' and 'Store' simultaneously, the display reads '778qgeef' and none of the buttons work any more.' This detachment is quite impossible for many people, which is why many instruction books are incomprehensible. The same skill is involved in writing crystal-clear regulations. There is also a problem for the majority of electronics engineers, whether English or not. They are not the most adept at choosing words and comprehending other words. Guide-writing groups are often composed of administrative officials, some with legal training, and electronics people **chosen for their expertise in electronics, not for skill with words**. The administrators, especially the legal experts, have their own vocabulary, which very often differs very greatly from that of the engineers, **who often don't realise that it matters**. So draft Guides are often at least as obscure or misleading as the documents they are intended to be guides to. And, since they are prepared in bodies not in the standards-making process, there can be significant reluctance to accept critical comments on the texts. -- OOO - Own Opinions Only. Try www.jmwa.demon.co.uk and www.isce.org.uk Things can always get better. But that's not the only option. John Woodgate, J M Woodgate and Associates, Rayleigh, Essex UK - This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
