Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation

Cognetics and Iconic Linkage 
At first glance it may be difficult to see how a strategy such as Iconic Link-
re
ity from a source text and replacing it with standardised, invariant and 
simplified formulations. So how can it be regarded as a valid translation 
strategy let alone as a way of actually improving the quality of translations? 
Indeed, such a notion would appear to run contrary to conventional logic 
theory with its emphasis on the cognitive aspects of texts, introduces 
cumstances under which technical texts are produced in the target lan-
guage and target audience, this book has shown that by examining the 
petitive, and possibly even more boring, by removing variation and creativ-
age can improve translations. After all, it involves is making a text more 
254

---

Future Directions
and accepted wisdom in translation studies. The justification for this is quite 
simple if we think back to the primary aim of technical texts. In dealing 
with texts of a technical nature we are concerned first and foremost with 
the payload of a text, i.e. its content, and how well it can be assimilated by 
the reader. Consequently, any additional sub-functions or features of the 
text are of lesser or negligible importance. With this in mind, the idea of 
making a text less entertaining or fun to read is of little consequence when 
we consider that the text was never intended to be entertaining or fun; it 
was only ever intended to convey information effectively. In any case, none 
of the subjects in the usability study regarded the edited user guide as mo-
notonous or boring beyond what is normal for a text of this type. With our 
attention firmly fixed on the target audience and their needs, it is clear that 
the need to extract information from a text is of greater importance than to 
enjoy reading it. But aesthetic considerations aside, the clear benefits of this 
strategy for the reader in terms of clarity, usability and learnability surely 
outweigh any perceived stylistic shortcomings.