On Thu, 2007-01-04 at 21:32 -0500, Patrick wrote: > Les wrote: > > > <snipped lots of "complex data"> > > > Grammar checkers can do some interesting things, and they can improve > > clarity, but they do not make one accomplished in language. However, > > their value for a non-native speaker is considerable. > > > Regards, > > Les H > > To jump back into the thread; grammar checkers should not be relied > upon by non-native speakers for important messages. As has been noted, > they have questionable value when writing something which is being used > to promote a professional image. If you are writing emails to a mailing > list, then they are fine and incorrect language is usually excused. If > you are writing to a business prospect, then there is no substitute for > a native speaker checking over your work before sending it out. If our > company does a presentation utilizing references to another language, I > always hire one of the local college students who is from that area to > double-check our work. Being American and dealing mostly with > businesspeople who speak English, I do not have too much of a problem. > But if I was in another country trying to woo an English-speaking > company, you can be sure that relying on Microsoft to correct my > correspondence is way too much of a gamble for me. > > Patrick > Hi, Patrick, There are several levels of communications, among them are publicity, professional promotion, professional intercourse, professional interaction, personal interaction, personal, urgent requests for assistance. The order I have listed them is also IMHO the order of priority for context and grammar correctness, and should also be tied to cost/effect relationships. I believe that the use of grammar checkers satisfies from personal interaction thorugh urgent requests for assistance. From the personal level up, you have to make a tradeoff of the cost in time/money/effort/reward as you move upward in this chain, from using local and personal friends reviewing the work to hiring professional copywriters. And you are right that from professional interaction up, the grammar checker should not be relied on as the sole check of grammar and context. However as input to the professional checker, using a grammar checker to help clean up the content can be helpful. I used my rough input, one checked by either a grammar checker or a local friend to input my desires to a professional copy writer, and gave the professional copywriter both copies along with copious personal interaction in some cases. Note that I did not say that the grammar checker should be the exclusive process, but only that it had great value. As to the level of communications, the very best communications is always written in sixth or eighth grade level grammar and context. This is common in the US. In some communications lowering this to fourth or fifth grade level will further ensure good comprehension by a larger audience. However when doing professional communications you should always employ language relative to the age and sophistication of the audience. And remember that communications is always two ways in person, simplex in letters and email, and unidirectional in presentations or advertising copy, thus lowering the bar on technical levels as you go into this last list of communications. These things make specifying grammar in the US difficult, but in some countries, such as Korea (one I am personally familiar with) there are also issues of gender, generational and professional status that are an important part of the communications forms of address and grammar selection. Regards, Les H
