Technical
Communication
Principles and Practice
THIRD EDITION
Meenakshi Raman
Professor and Head
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
BITS, Pilani (K.K. Birla Goa Campus)
Sangeeta Sharma
Associate Professor
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
BITS, Pilani
, 3
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of
Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries.
Published in India by
Oxford University Press
YMCA Library Building, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi 110001, India
© Oxford University Press 2004, 2011, 2015
The moral rights of the author/s have been asserted.
First Edition published in 2004
Third Edition published in 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by licence, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics
rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-945749-6
ISBN-10: 0-19-945749-2
Typeset in Caslon Pro
by Anvi Composers, New Delhi 110063
Printed in India by Magic International (P) Ltd., Greater Noida
Third-party website addresses mentioned in this book are provided
by Oxford University Press in good faith and for information only.
Oxford University Press disclaims any responsibility for the material contained therein.
, About the Authors
Meenakshi Raman is presently Professor and Head, Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences at the Goa campus of the Birla Institute of Technology and
Science (BITS), Pilani. She has several years of teaching experience and has
been teaching courses on professional and technical communication at various
levels.
Sangeeta Sharma is presently Associate Professor, Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences at BITS, Pilani. She is also the Coordinator of the Centre
for Women Studies and has been teaching courses on communication and
advertising at BITS, Pilani. Dr Sharma has several years of teaching experience
and has published several articles on communication.
, Brief Contents
Preface to the Third Edition iii
Preface to the First Edition vi
Features of the Book viii
Detailed Contents xi
PART I: INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
1. Basics of Technical Communication 3
2. Barriers to Communication 25
3. Non-verbal Communication 39
PART II: LISTENING AND SPEAKING
4. Active Listening 53
5. Effective Speaking 73
6. Conversations and Dialogues 98
7. Formal Presentations 113
8. Interviews 140
9. Group Communication 176
PART III: READING AND WRITING
10. Reading Comprehension 223
11. Elements of Effective Writing 252
12. The Art of Condensation 274
13. Technical Reports 284
14. Technical Proposals 321
15. Formal Letters, Memos, and Email 349
16. Research Papers and Technical Descriptions 419
PART IV: REVIEW OF GRAMMAR
17. Grammar and Vocabulary Development 437
References 493
Index 495
About the Authors 499
Communication
Principles and Practice
THIRD EDITION
Meenakshi Raman
Professor and Head
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
BITS, Pilani (K.K. Birla Goa Campus)
Sangeeta Sharma
Associate Professor
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
BITS, Pilani
, 3
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of
Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries.
Published in India by
Oxford University Press
YMCA Library Building, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi 110001, India
© Oxford University Press 2004, 2011, 2015
The moral rights of the author/s have been asserted.
First Edition published in 2004
Third Edition published in 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by licence, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics
rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-945749-6
ISBN-10: 0-19-945749-2
Typeset in Caslon Pro
by Anvi Composers, New Delhi 110063
Printed in India by Magic International (P) Ltd., Greater Noida
Third-party website addresses mentioned in this book are provided
by Oxford University Press in good faith and for information only.
Oxford University Press disclaims any responsibility for the material contained therein.
, About the Authors
Meenakshi Raman is presently Professor and Head, Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences at the Goa campus of the Birla Institute of Technology and
Science (BITS), Pilani. She has several years of teaching experience and has
been teaching courses on professional and technical communication at various
levels.
Sangeeta Sharma is presently Associate Professor, Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences at BITS, Pilani. She is also the Coordinator of the Centre
for Women Studies and has been teaching courses on communication and
advertising at BITS, Pilani. Dr Sharma has several years of teaching experience
and has published several articles on communication.
, Brief Contents
Preface to the Third Edition iii
Preface to the First Edition vi
Features of the Book viii
Detailed Contents xi
PART I: INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
1. Basics of Technical Communication 3
2. Barriers to Communication 25
3. Non-verbal Communication 39
PART II: LISTENING AND SPEAKING
4. Active Listening 53
5. Effective Speaking 73
6. Conversations and Dialogues 98
7. Formal Presentations 113
8. Interviews 140
9. Group Communication 176
PART III: READING AND WRITING
10. Reading Comprehension 223
11. Elements of Effective Writing 252
12. The Art of Condensation 274
13. Technical Reports 284
14. Technical Proposals 321
15. Formal Letters, Memos, and Email 349
16. Research Papers and Technical Descriptions 419
PART IV: REVIEW OF GRAMMAR
17. Grammar and Vocabulary Development 437
References 493
Index 495
About the Authors 499
