Israel's organization of technical/marcom writers and copy editors
In English a word like “meticulous” does double duty, describing both the person who is strict about details and the work that gets done that way. But it isn’t passive, so when applied to the work, it doesn’t point back to the creator of the meticulousness as strongly as mookpad does. Mookpad is more like “meticulized.”
Read MoreThe word “trend” has recently reproduced itself in Hebrew, but with a mutation. In Hebrew, “trend” (טרנד) means “fad.”
Read MoreDictionaries tend to favor the spatial definition of לקראת: The Dvir dictionary says “to meet, towards,” and it mentions that the root is קרא (as in “Hey, you!”). Sivan and Levenston’s Bantam dictionary also says “towards” but it adds the meanings “for” and “in view of,” taking into account that as the time of an occurrence approaches, it influences our behavior. We might say we bought a new electric heater לקראת החורף and mean that we bought it because winter was impending. On the other hand, we might also say that לקראת החורף we bought a new electric toothbrush.
Read MoreThe Hebrew said that the mission wasn’t accomplished till the תקינות of the newly developed interfaces was tested. I didn’t have a word for תקינות. I suppose it might have sufficed to say “till the interfaces are tested,” jumping straight past the word.
Read MoreWhat is the general term that would fit a guy whose function involves no hands-on participation, no hiring, firing, budget-making, imposition of schedules, or issuance of commands, and no PowerPoint presentations, but who nonetheless is supposed to be listened to seriously because he knows the stuff?
Read MoreBusinesses perform קליטה all the time, as they bring in new employees, so some businesses adopt the word absorption and it’s got to rub an English-speaking recruit the wrong way. We don’t so much mind being absorbed into the noble Jewish state, but to think of your identity dissolving around the edges as you become part of, say, Srigamish? — It may be a fine company but the concept is disturbing.
Read MoreTwenty years ago, calls and letters might have sufficed for פניות, but today the list of media may be longer. The term communications could be useful, but it is a little heavy and vague. A lot could be covered by feedback, but it doesn’t exactly apply, for example, to the fellow who writes in not to comment or inquire about your activities but to offer his services as a feng shui consultant.
Read MoreThe Academy of the Hebrew Language lists sixty phrases including the word תקן, and in more than fifty of them the translation uses
Read MoreSite for Israel's professional tech writing and marcom community. Originally based in what has become Israel's 2nd largest R&D center (Yokneam), Elephant brings together technical and marcom writers from all over Israel. Behind the scenes and between meetings, members stay in contact with job offers and leads, joint projects, and professional assistance.
Using the wrong technical writer is like using a wrench to open a door, it works, but a door knob is better and cheaper. Elephant was started to help match writers and copy editors with companies where their skills match company needs.
