Translation Issues 4-00 (December 2000) by Yiqin Wang The Original Article:TR18: Cross-cultural Transformation of Technical Documentation

I would like to comment on the paper by Stefan Just.

The level of native language is not a cultural factor which needs considering in transformation of technical documentation in China. There are several reasons:

1. Even though the Chinese language covers altogether about 70 000 characters, one can basically master 7000 characters after 9 school years of education (6 years of elementary school and 3 years of secondary school), and with 7000 characters one can read and understand reference books without problems.
2. Most mechanics have the educational level of vocational school (2 additional years after secondary school), and some of them have even graduated from a technical college (3 years after high school). That is, apart from the basic characters, they have also mastered vocational terminologies in relation to the various majors such as automobile mechanics, and so on. DaimlerChrysler AG

"transline Deutschland - Übersetzungsdienst für technische Übersetzung"