We discuss the non-perturbative and the radiative corrections to
inclusive B decays from the point of view known from QED
corrections to high energy e^+ e^- processes. Here the
leading contributions can be implemented through the so called
``radiator function'' which corresponds to the shape function
known in heavy hadron decays. In this way some new insight
into the origin of the shape function is obtained. As a
byproduct, a parameterization of the radiatively corrected shape
function is suggested which can be implemented in Monte Carlo studies
of inclusive heavy hadron decays.
