A Cross-cultural Comparison of the Use of Graphics in Scientific and Technical Communication Export

@article{citeulike:5917121, abstract = {Communication styles vary across cultures. To investigate cultural differences in visual communication, graphics from Chinese popular science magazines and instruction manuals were compared with their counterparts from American sources. The results show that the Chinese visuals provide more contextual information to the readers when presenting new scientific concepts. The Chinese instruction manuals contain graphics with extensive technical data, which are not a typical feature in American manuals. The American visuals, on the other hand, are more closely integrated with corresponding verbal explanations. The emphasis of American manuals is on problem solving, that is, performing tasks. Cultural factors that may account for the differences are also discussed.}, author = {Qiuye, Wang}, citeulike-article-id = {5917121}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2000/00000047/00000004/art00008}, issn = {0049-3155}, journal = {Technical Communication}, keywords = {communication, communication\_styles, conceptual, information, intercultural}, month = {November}, pages = {553--560}, posted-at = {2009-10-14 21:27:07}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Society for Technical Communication}, title = {A Cross-cultural Comparison of the Use of Graphics in Scientific and Technical Communication}, url = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2000/00000047/00000004/art00008}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5917121 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5917121 N2 - Communication styles vary across cultures. To investigate cultural differences in visual communication, graphics from Chinese popular science magazines and instruction manuals were compared with their counterparts from American sources. The results show that the Chinese visuals provide more contextual information to the readers when presenting new scientific concepts. The Chinese instruction manuals contain graphics with extensive technical data, which are not a typical feature in American manuals. The American visuals, on the other hand, are more closely integrated with corresponding verbal explanations. The emphasis of American manuals is on problem solving, that is, performing tasks. Cultural factors that may account for the differences are also discussed. JF - Technical Communication SN - 0049-3155 EP - 560 TI - A Cross-cultural Comparison of the Use of Graphics in Scientific and Technical Communication PB - Society for Technical Communication SP - 553 KW - communication KW - communication_styles KW - conceptual KW - information KW - intercultural AU - Qiuye, Wang PY - 2000/11// UR - http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2000/00000047/00000004/art00008 ER -