Beyond Standard English: Shufra becomes authorized reseller for Boeing Simplified English Checker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 7, 2009 -- Singapore, 7 April 2009
By Shumin Chen

Shufra (www.shufra.com.sg) announced its latest business venture with the Boeing Company, offering a unique software product that helps technical writers check for compliance with the international standard ASD-STE100, also known as Simplified Technical English (STE), or Simplified English (SE).

STE as opposed to Standard English is a form of controlled language that only uses specific grammatical structures and unambiguous, consistent technical terms. On the contrary, the large repository of words and grammar rules in Standard English can pose many limitations in its usage for technical documentation purposes. Confusing word meanings and complex grammar rules in Standard English only add to the frustrations of technical writers whose primary aim is to facilitate communication between product manufacturers and end-users.

Dr. Frans Wijma, managing director and linguist at Shufra explained, "To help writers achieve this goal, we need a specialised language that is highly accurate and consistent. ASD-STE100 meets these requirements. This specification consists of a set of writing rules and guidelines for technical terms that can be used to convey instructions in a direct manner. The benefits of STE are manifold: lower word counts, fewer mistranslations and cost savings."

In recognition of the importance of creating clear and unambiguous content in the field of technical writing, the BSEC package is comprehensively designed to include the following: BSEC Vocabulary Management System allows users add new technical terms and modify dictionary entries, BSEC Vocabulary Profiler provides writers and editors with text mining tools such as a word frequency profiler and concordance generator, BSEC STE Tutor coaches users on the correct writing rules of STE and the ASD-STE100 specification.

Jointly developed by Dr. Richard Wojcik and Dr. Philip Harrison together with their team at the Boeing Research & Technology Division (formerly Phantom Works), BSEC was originally used to provide technical documentation support for Boeing commercial airplanes. Since 2000, BSEC has been sold to customers outside of Boeing and the usage of BSEC can be adapted for other industries.

For more information on BSEC and STE implementation services, please contact us at: info@shufra.com.sg.