• DocumentCode
    1677430
  • Title

    Technical language: learning from the Columbia and Challenger reports

  • Author

    Dombrowski, Paul M.

  • Author_Institution
    Central Florida Univ., Orlando, FL, USA
  • fYear
    2005
  • Firstpage
    638
  • Lastpage
    641
  • Abstract
    We can learn from the Columbia shuttle tragedy the potential consequences of taking technical language as more definite, unequivocal, agreed upon than it really is. Sadly, language misunderstandings in Columbia (2003) parallel similar problems in Challenger (1986). Fortunately, though, technical investigators are learning the vagaries of language use and organizational culture in shaping technical discourse.
  • Keywords
    aerospace; organisational aspects; professional communication; Challenger shuttle tragedy; Columbia shuttle tragedy; organizational culture; technical discourse; technical language; Accidents; Aerospace industry; Concrete; Context awareness; Extraterrestrial phenomena; Knowledge management; NASA; Professional communication; Space exploration; Space shuttles;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • Conference_Titel
    Professional Communication Conference, 2005. IPCC 2005. Proceedings. International
  • Print_ISBN
    0-7803-9027-X
  • Electronic_ISBN
    0-7803-9028-8
  • Type

    conf

  • DOI
    10.1109/IPCC.2005.1494233
  • Filename
    1494233