Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals

Qian Li; Joyce Karreman; Menno D.T. De Jong

doi:10.1109/ProComm.2018.00029

Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals

Communication Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

247 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In today's global world, understanding local user preferences becomes an increasingly essential skill, especially for technical communicators who design products for people in other cultures. This study attempts to analyze and compare visuals in Chinese and Western manuals because visuals play an essential role in manuals. Based on a systematically designed coding scheme, we analyzed 50 Western and 50 Chinese household product manuals (1895 pages in total) designed in their own cultures and published after 2007. Results show many differences between Chinese and Western manuals with regard to visuals. All differences seem to point in the same direction; Chinese visuals appear to have an entertaining function while Western visuals are not meant to entertain the readers but have an informative or instructive function. This study aims to enhance the mutual understanding of information designers in cross-cultural manual design.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings - 2018 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	90-97
Number of pages	8
Volume	2018-July
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538658574
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ProComm.2018.00029
Publication status	Published - 28 Sept 2018
Event	IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018 - Toronto, Canada Duration: 22 Jul 2018 → 25 Jul 2018 http://procomm2018.utoronto.ca/

Conference

Conference	IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018
Abbreviated title	ProComm 2018
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Toronto
Period	22/07/18 → 25/07/18
Internet address	http://procomm2018.utoronto.ca/

Keywords

2019 OA procedure
cross-cultural communication
user manual
visuals
western culture
Chinese culture

Access to Document

10.1109/ProComm.2018.00029

EntertainingorfunctionalFinal published version, 303 KBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

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title = "Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals",

abstract = "In today's global world, understanding local user preferences becomes an increasingly essential skill, especially for technical communicators who design products for people in other cultures. This study attempts to analyze and compare visuals in Chinese and Western manuals because visuals play an essential role in manuals. Based on a systematically designed coding scheme, we analyzed 50 Western and 50 Chinese household product manuals (1895 pages in total) designed in their own cultures and published after 2007. Results show many differences between Chinese and Western manuals with regard to visuals. All differences seem to point in the same direction; Chinese visuals appear to have an entertaining function while Western visuals are not meant to entertain the readers but have an informative or instructive function. This study aims to enhance the mutual understanding of information designers in cross-cultural manual design.",

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author = "Qian Li and Joyce Karreman and \{De Jong\}, \{Menno D.T.\}",

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booktitle = "Proceedings - 2018 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018",

publisher = "IEEE",

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note = "IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018, ProComm 2018 ; Conference date: 22-07-2018 Through 25-07-2018",

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Li, Q, Karreman, J & De Jong, MDT 2018, Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals. in Proceedings - 2018 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018. vol. 2018-July, 8476836, IEEE, pp. 90-97, IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 22/07/18. https://doi.org/10.1109/ProComm.2018.00029

Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals. / Li, Qian; Karreman, Joyce ; De Jong, Menno D.T.
Proceedings - 2018 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ProComm 2018. Vol. 2018-July IEEE, 2018. p. 90-97 8476836.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AB - In today's global world, understanding local user preferences becomes an increasingly essential skill, especially for technical communicators who design products for people in other cultures. This study attempts to analyze and compare visuals in Chinese and Western manuals because visuals play an essential role in manuals. Based on a systematically designed coding scheme, we analyzed 50 Western and 50 Chinese household product manuals (1895 pages in total) designed in their own cultures and published after 2007. Results show many differences between Chinese and Western manuals with regard to visuals. All differences seem to point in the same direction; Chinese visuals appear to have an entertaining function while Western visuals are not meant to entertain the readers but have an informative or instructive function. This study aims to enhance the mutual understanding of information designers in cross-cultural manual design.

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Entertaining or functional: An analysis of visuals in Chinese and Western household appliance manuals

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Keywords

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