Technical Writer: About Languages ​​and Countries

    So, what languages ​​does a technical writer in the field of IT use?

    English. THIS IS A MUST, as they say. It just so happened that this is the standard in the world of information technology. A technical writer in this area is simply obliged to own it, regardless of what his main working language is. Otherwise ... alas.
    By the way, what is pleasing is that reading the documentation in English is easy and pleasant (like scientific articles, by the way). It is usually written in a simple and understandable language.
    Often, even in Russian, the documentation is more complicated.

    Sample documentation: http://www.starwindsoftware.com/images/content/starwind_best_practicies_guide.pdf . If you understand and feel it, you can write no worse - well then, good luck!

    Deutsch.In the vastness of Europe, the language is important. If there is documentation, then why not be in German? This is what native speakers say.
    Pros: the language of the German group, so many terms are either English or similar to English (das Netzwerk = network, but the keyboard is already die Tastatur). Cons: the documentation is written in a very dubious and official syllable, which is sometimes recognized even by carriers. So a person who wants to develop writing documentation in this language will have to sweat well.

    Here is a good and open-ended example of documentation: http://www.kolab.org/doc/Allgemeine-Betriebsdokumentation-KolabServer22_20080103_1.0.pdf . What do you think about this?

    French.Unfortunately, I am not familiar with this language at all. It does not belong to the most popular in IT, but from time to time something like this skips in vacancies: “For long-term cooperation, you need a remote technical writer who can create documentation in French in the field of pharmacy automation software in France.” ( http://www.it4business.ru/forum/topic13528.html ). Or even like this: http://jobs.belhard.com/vacancies/techwriter

    In any case, if you speak this language and are interested in information technology, you will be in demand.

    Here is an example of documentation in French: http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install.pdf.fr


    Spanish.The language of Goya and Cervantes is becoming increasingly popular in the world. Moreover, it is the second European language in the world (after English, of course) by the number of speakers. Looking at the website of the university of the city of Nueva Leon http://www.uanl.mx/ , you understand that at such a pace he may well come close to the leader. I especially liked the virtual museum of modern art and the electronic library on this site, where you can read rare books, for example, the edition of the “Nabob” by Alfons Daudet of the 1880s ...
    Latin America is now starting to wake up. Note that the relationship between the former colonies and the mother country is not what it might seem. Yes, there were a huge number of wars for independence, Spain imported slaves there and turned the local population into slaves. But Spain is Spain, do not touch it. Hugo Chavez can fight for mega-socialist ideas, but comes to the audience and conferences with the Spanish king, Fidel Castro fights for the same, but Cuba helps eliminate illiteracy (and it still exists there!) In the former metropolis. Yes, and the Cuban Technical University, according to my Spanish teacher, recently developed some major software for Gazprom. Unfortunately, I did not find confirmation of this fact on the Web. But all these factors provide the basis for reflection on the future of the Spanish language.
    But we were distracted ...
    Already now, at interviews, they begin, in addition to compulsory English, to ask about knowledge of the Spanish language. But those who know him are mainly girls who like Spain, Enrique Iglesias, salsa but, alas, who have a very distant relation to technology. Do not consider sexism, but more often it happens. There are almost no technical specialists with knowledge of this language in our country. It's a pity. It may come in handy soon.
    A few notes for those who are interested: Spanish is not as simple as it is believed, and all those who study it will agree with me. Computer terms, I think, are more like French: el teclado is a keyboard, la red is a network, it pleases that software is software here.
    By the way, if you are a freelance technical writer and speak this language, and even have a degree, then you can ask your native university if they are going to introduce any special technical subjects in this language. In one of the Kiev universities, such a program exists, but there are no specialists who would simultaneously speak the language and equipment. But it would be good: there is really little work, but at the same time there is a practice of spoken language. And teaching at a university is considered a prestigious job abroad.

    Well, for starters, as usual - an example of documentation: http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install.pdf.es

    Portuguese. Potugalia, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde ... well ... Brazil ... Brazil!
    A few months ago I read some article about the state of the IT industry in this country. It was noted that there are many excellent programmers. Well, this is not news. But here was what was interesting: their rather low knowledge of English was noted. But this moment is more interesting and, perhaps, it is worth paying attention to this country. I think that at the junction of English and Portuguese (that is, the writer will be explained in Portuguese, and he will write in English) there are chances to develop in this region of the information world.
    By the way, Portuguese Portuguese from Brazilian Portuguese is very different. If you own the first, but wish to master the second, there is an option to look for ... the nearest capoeira section (this is not a joke! In any case, in Kiev there are such retraining courses at one of the schools for those who already know the original Portuguese). Or perhaps you will find yourself a new non-computer hobby, not everyone is sitting in front of the monitor ...
    By the way, here is a summary of the average technical writer from Brazil: http://www.odesk.com/users/Native-Brazilian-English-Portuguese-Translator_

    Here are some examples of documentation: http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install.pdf.pt_BR, http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install.pdf.pt .

    You like? Then do not lose time :)

    Italian. In the Apennines, the software development market is extremely small. Of the giants, one can only recall Olivetti, who, even under the Soviet Union, placed his ad on the chimes of the Vremya program. Readers with experience will undoubtedly remember. Most of the other companies are outsourcing.
    Unfortunately, it’s difficult to talk about the prospects of this language in the IT sphere. Among the Italians I have ever met, not one knew English, this is characteristic of the southern peoples. However, I have not seen Italian programmers either. Therefore ... the language of opera, literature, the second state language in Somalia (is there anyone who wants to go there on a cruise?), But not the world of information technology. However, readers can correct me if I'm wrong.

    As usual, sample documentation:http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/ia64/index.html.it

    Post-Soviet space, state languages. But do not laugh. After all, there are government programs, especially before the arrival of any important delegations, when you need to show that “and we have it!”. Since if it is really necessary for yesterday, then in the post-Soviet space money is often not considered and the salary can be very good.
    And if you take non-governmental projects, then you can also make good money on them. Personally, I have such an experience.
    So prepare a resume in your native language, revise your grammar and keep an eye on the situation. After all, what the hell is not joking ...

    Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about languages ​​like Chinese, Hindi and Arabic and their use for writing IT documentation. But maybe our reader knows more?

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