International English

Technical communicators are learning to use techniques that make documents in English easy to read and understand, even for readers using a phrase book. Some of the techniques, which have evolved in several organizations that operate worldwide, include controlled English, simplified English, and international English. Other techniques have been compared. Applications of international English in operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory are demonstrated. These operations involve international technology transfer and thus demand clarity and technical accuracy. It is emphasized that international English does not replace translation but makes it faster and more accurate. The major advantages of international English are that nonnative speakers of English can read it easily and it makes translation cost effective by reducing the length and complexity of a document.<>