The controlled language (CL) model is not new: Caterpillar Fundamental English was rolled-out in 1972, and many other enterprise- and a few industry-level controlled languages followed since then. What is new is the fact that now complete commercial rule sets and powerful CL tools are available for free, making controlled language authoring attractive for even the smallest organizations.
Why use a controlled language?
Improving the readability of technical texts
The first controlled language, C.K. Ogden’s Basic English, consisted of 850 words and was published in 1930 with the goal of reducing the time needed to learn English. Modern controlled languages typically have two components:
- Grammar rules that are more restrictive than the rules of the general language;
- A vocabulary that contains only a fraction of the words of the general language.
These types of restrictions help authors avoid writing long, convoluted sentences and using uncommon words, all of which are arch enemies of easy readability and comprehension.
Supporting the translation process
When the European Aerospace Manufacturers Association (AECMA) introduced Simplified Technical English, the primary goal was not to simplify translation, but to completely eliminate it. How? By providing authors of ...
Read more after login
tekom members can log in directly with their "My tekom" access data.
You are not yet a tekom member, but would like to read one or more articles in full? Then you have the opportunity to register on the internet portal of the technical journal 'tcworld' without obligation. Once you have registered, you can select any three specialist articles and view them in full for a period of two months. The selection will then be deleted and you can select three new articles for the next two months.
As a tekom member you benefit from the following advantages::
- Online access to all articles of the trade magazine 'tcworld magazine'
- Exclusive specialist articles from all areas of technical communication
- Regular new articles from over 300 authors
- The technical journal 'tcworld magazine' as a printed edition
- Reduced admission prices to tekom conferences
- Membership fees for tekom publications
- Access to 'my tekom', the web forum with job offers / job requests, appointments, expert advice, service provider file and much more
Login
Registration
Promised: The trade magazine 'tcworld magazine' is the best we have. And we don't make the choice easy for ourselves. Every month, the editorial staff of the technical journal 'tcworld magazine' publishes the latest articles by renowned authors. This demanding selection is available exclusively to members of tekom (as usual, including the printed edition).
The trade magazine 'tcworld magazine' stands for intelligently prepared specialist articles, texts written to the point, informative content, surprising insights, international perspectives and communicates technical communication in an understandable, fast, clear and uncomplicated way - exclusively for you.
