Which foreign language is most useful to know for technical writing?

Question

Which foreign language is most useful to know in the technical writing/editing industry? Spanish or French?

Answer 1

There are two kinds of tech writers--one is a subject matter expert--someone who knows how the application works from a programming/technical point of view.S/he documents programs.

The other is what I did--serve as a "translator". Gaining information from the experts and writing it for ordinary people. A foreign language is not useful unless you are writing for that audience. I'd say that a basic understanding of computers and computer languages would be helpful. In my career I wrote about : industrial gases, project management, telephone equipment installation, computer testing. None of which I had personal knowledge. The most helpful language for these projects is English. Grammar, sequencing information. You need interviewing skills, persistence in getting your questions answered. You pick up the technical info as needed.

Spanish and French are not widely used for technical projects.

Answer 2

Latin, it is the base of most languages. If our choices are only between the two, i would say spanish, but that's just because i think spanish is easier because i took both and stuck with spanish.

Answer 3

As a tech writer, definitely spanish. At least in the U.S. If you are in Canada, obviously French.

Answer 4

remember guys.... you're given two choices here: spanish and french.

i don't know french or spanish very well, but both are very sexy languages.

bonne chance...

Answer 5

it´s german and english