In a message dated 98-03-10 08:13:16 EST, Colleen wrote:
<< Picking an audience structures your language, not your content. For
example, you would not use the same terms to write a children's book as
you would an adult one. Also, if you are aiming at a group with a certain
knowledge base (computers, religion, science, etc.), you may assume they
have a certain background and do not need some explanations. Getting you
point across means using words that the other person(s) can understand.>>
I agree with the second part, but I have to say that audience DOES influence
your content. To tie together what you say here about children and adult
audiences with the thread about sexual content in SF, I think you can see how
even something as simple as the portrayal of a marriage might be VERY
different in a children's book and an adult one. I can think of dozens more
examples (slavery, the Holocaust, etc.) of subjects that would have to be
treated not only with different language, but with different content (even if
by content we are only talking level of explicit detail). Besides, when you
are talking about written communication, a change in language IS a change in
content.
Off to teach my 3:15 composition class about how audience affects writing. ;)
Craig Jacobsen
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