Challenging the way we learn to write for a global audience

Corporate and educational systems are world wide organizations. It is our role, as technical communicators, to communicate effectively on a global scale. Currently, there is little training available to teach "global" writing. Many technical communication programs lack discussions about writing for translation or writing for international audiences. Many corporations do not train writers to write globally. Yet, globally aware writers, trained in using precise and consistent terminology and universally accepted symbols, can save thousands of dollars in translations costs. We need to realize that global writing has become a concern in technical communication. We need to develop programs in our educational systems that teach students how to write for translation and corporations need to train writers to write globally, encouraging writers and translators to work together. Transitioning to "global" writers cannot be achieved immediately. Individually, we can become aware of bias within our own technical writing. The author outlines ways in which we can recognize writing bias and become aware of translators' needs, and eventually recognize needs of international audiences.