Writing Around the World: A Guide To Writing Across Cultures

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Description

Cultures use different writing strategies because they strive for different goals. Some cultures rely on writer responsibility while other cultures rely on reader responsibility. Writer responsibility emphasizes clear and concise prose, actions over subjects, practical implications, and follows a deductive logical structure. Misunderstandings are the writer's responsibility. Reader responsibility emphasizes flowery and ornate prose, subjects instead of actions, theoretical implications, and follows an inductive logical structure. Misunderstandings are the reader's responsibility. The differences between writer responsibility and reader responsibility help explain why some cultures prefer clarity when other cultures prefer complexity. The problem is that both writing styles are perfectly acceptable, but only within their given context. And this is why global writers need Writing Around the World.which:
provides an overview to intercultural writing - explains the concept of the deepest dimensions of culture' - links language, thought, and culture - dissects two contrastive papers, including anatomy, basic principles, matters of form, and even style - connects logic and ethics with intercultural writing - offers tips and tools for writing around the world.

Reviews

"As coordinator of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, I need to communicate, often through writing, with thousands of people from more than 130 nations. Obviously this is quite a challenge in terms of getting messages across the different cultural and languages constrains! Writing Around the World is the perfect field guide for this task and it has helped me to improve the communication flow within the IYA2009 network. McCool's book presents a solid, suggestive and significant contribution to what is now one of the most difficult arenas in science communication: writing across cultures." - Pedro Russo is the International Astronomical Union Coordinator for International Year of Astronomy 2009. He is also editor-in-chief of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal.

Author Bio

Matthew McCool is Assistant Professor at Southern Polytechnic SU, USA