Can understand specialised articles and longer technical instructions, even when not related to their own field
Specialised technical comprehension
Vocabulary
technical specifications — especificações técnicas
The of the equipment run to twenty pages.
As especificações técnicas do equipamento ocupam vinte páginas.assembly instructions — instruções de montagem
The assume the reader knows the basics.
As instruções de montagem partem do pressuposto de que o leitor conhece o básico.specialised article — artigo especializado
The presupposes knowledge of biochemistry.
O artigo especializado pressupõe conhecimentos de bioquímica.technical jargon — jargão técnico
The text uses that intimidates non-specialists.
O texto recorre a um jargão técnico que intimida os leigos.to decipher the acronyms — decifrar as siglas
To understand the report, one must decipher the acronyms on the first page.
Para compreender o relatório, é preciso decifrar as siglas da primeira página.technical annex — anexo técnico
The full details are to be found in the .
Os detalhes completos encontram-se no anexo técnico.
Grammar
Ellipsis in dense technical prose
Omitting repeated subjects, auxiliaries and relative elements so that technical writing stays concise, and recognising the recovered meaning
- First switch the device on; then wait two minutes.
- Module A feeds module B; module B drives the output stage.
Cultural notes
English technical writing favours the imperative and nominalisation, with ellipsis of the agent. Clarity is a legal requirement in British standards documents, so elided elements must be directly recoverable from adjacent text.