Idea: Language patrols

**King Henry V** · 09-20-2005, 18:43

Recently there are a few members (who shall remain nameless) whose grasp of the English language is rudimentary ath the best, and whose message can be somewhat confusing for other patrons. I suggest the creation of a language patrol, whose member be assigned to certain boards and who have the power to edit people's texts to as to clarify them. However, that is their only power and they should not be able to close threads, delete posts, sticky threads and issue warnings. They would be not be treated as moderators or assistant moderators, just as ordinary members who mish to make everyone elses experience a little better here. Anyone like my idea?

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 09-20-2005, 20:12

I think it would be better to try to help the people who do not speak English as a first language to learn to write better and politely correct their mistakes, I don't think it is a good idea to give a bunch of people the power to edit posts, and encourage them to. Also the person editing the post may not know what the poster means, I have an exchange student from Turkey and this sort of thing has happened a couple of times, it is very easy to do. We just need to be patient and polite. Note: Mods are only supposed to edit out objectionable material, it is not their sole purpose.

**Sjakihata** · 09-21-2005, 10:32

I think it's a lousy idea. These members are certainly not from an english speaking nation - and probably have 1 or even 2 languages they prefer to speak, than english. However, no one (british or american) are competent or willing to speak in another tongue - therefore the conflict. German, french or spanish is much easier to master than english, so to me it's a puzzle why english is such a high rated language anyway.

**King Henry V** · 09-21-2005, 11:15

German is

easier than English?

**Mouzafphaerre** · 09-21-2005, 11:27

Originally Posted by King Henry V

German is

easier than English?

.
It is, only if you take it after English.

I'll be tackling Greek from next month on. Kurdish is definitely easier than all, Arabic being the toughest nut to crack.

Btw, I agree with the rest that it's not a good idea.
.

**Mikeus Caesar** · 09-21-2005, 16:23

If i was a person who couldn't grasp English too well and had my post edited by a 'language patrol' i would feel deeply insulted. I mean, come on, it's so patronizing! By editing it, they'll also never learn how they should have done it, because most of the time people point out how it should be done which is quite a help, so their English would just get worse, not better.

**Sjakihata** · 09-21-2005, 17:39

Originally Posted by Mouzafphaerre

I'll be tackling Greek from next month on.

Are you talking ancient greek here? I just started on a course, it's quite cool, and my latin classes really help me.

It would be good to exchange tips & tricks, if you'd be up for it?

**Papewaio** · 09-22-2005, 00:56

Originally Posted by Sjakihata

I think it's a lousy idea. These members are certainly not from an english speaking nation - and probably have 1 or even 2 languages they prefer to speak, than english. However, no one (british or american) are competent or willing to speak in another tongue - therefore the conflict. German, french or spanish is much easier to master than english, so to me it's a puzzle why english is such a high rated language anyway.

Simple there are more people in the world who speak English as a first or trade tongue.

Most Commonwealth of Nations members have English as a primary or secondary language.

Antigua and Barbuda (1981)
Australia (19311)
Bahamas (1973)
Bangladesh (1972)
Barbados (1966)
Belize (1981)
Botswana (1966)
Brunei (1984)
Cameroon (1995)
Canada (1931)
Cyprus (1961)
Dominica (1978)
Fiji (19702)
The Gambia (1965)
Ghana (1957)
Grenada (1974)
Guyana (1966)
India (1947)
Jamaica (1962)
Kenya (1963)
Kiribati (1979)
Lesotho (1966)
Malawi (1964)
Malaysia (1957)
Maldives (1982)
Malta (1964)
Mauritius (1968)
Mozambique (1995)
Namibia (1990)
Nauru (2000)
New Zealand (19313)
Nigeria (19604)
Pakistan (19475)
Papua New Guinea (1975)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983)
Saint Lucia (1979)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979)
Samoa (1970)
Seychelles (1976)
Sierra Leone (1961)
Singapore (1965)
Solomon Islands (1978)
South Africa (19316)
Sri Lanka (1948)
Swaziland (1968)
Tanzania (1961)
Tonga (1970)
Trinidad and Tobago (1962)
Tuvalu (1978)
Uganda (1962)
United Kingdom (1931)
Vanuatu (1980)
Zambia (1964)

And in South East Asia the most popular European language for business is English.

**Del Arroyo** · 09-22-2005, 01:05

Poor idea. Even a highly skilled translator would screw up the meaning once in a while, and would routinely change the feel of the text. If a post is tough to understand, then that's a problem that has to be worked out on the initiative of the person who wants it to be understood and the people who want to understand it.

You'd also eventually get the language patrol just correcting small, unnecessary things. As a trained language teacher, I often find things even in the posts of very understandable and eloquent non-native English speakers that I'd like to tweak if I got the chance.

And I know I'd be pissed if someone on a Latin board went around messing with my posts in Spanish...

DA

**Louis VI the Fat** · 09-22-2005, 17:54

Originally Posted by Del Arroyo

Poor idea. Even a highly skilled translator would screw up the meaning once in a while, and would routinely change the feel of the text. If a post is tough to understand, then that's a problem that has to be worked out on the initiative of the person who wants it to be understood and the people who want to understand it.

You'd also eventually get the language patrol just correcting small, unnecessary things. As a trained language teacher, I often find things even in the posts of very understandable and eloquent non-native English speakers that I'd like to tweak if I got the chance.

And I know I'd be pissed if someone on a Latin board went around messing with my posts in Spanish...

DA

Actually, I once tinkered with the idea of putting a message in my sig saying: 'did I make a mistake in the above? Don't be shy in pointing it out - I'm quite eager to perfect my English'.

I'm confident enough about my English to know that what I write is perfectly comprehensible. But I'm also realistic enough to know that it still leaves a lot to be desired.

And the idea of a trained language teacher tweaking it sounds more like a wet dream than an insult...

So please don't hesitate. This goes for all you native speakers.

**Mouzafphaerre** · 09-22-2005, 01:16

.

Originally Posted by Papewaio

Australia (19311)

.

**Sjakihata** · 09-22-2005, 07:28

Originally Posted by Papewaio

Simple there are more people in the world who speak English as a first or trade tongue.

Most Commonwealth of Nations members have English as a primary or secondary language.

Antigua and Barbuda (1981)
Australia (19311)
Bahamas (1973)
Bangladesh (1972)
Barbados (1966)
Belize (1981)
Botswana (1966)
Brunei (1984)
Cameroon (1995)
Canada (1931)
Cyprus (1961)
Dominica (1978)
Fiji (19702)
The Gambia (1965)
Ghana (1957)
Grenada (1974)
Guyana (1966)
India (1947)
Jamaica (1962)
Kenya (1963)
Kiribati (1979)
Lesotho (1966)
Malawi (1964)
Malaysia (1957)
Maldives (1982)
Malta (1964)
Mauritius (1968)
Mozambique (1995)
Namibia (1990)
Nauru (2000)
New Zealand (19313)
Nigeria (19604)
Pakistan (19475)
Papua New Guinea (1975)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983)
Saint Lucia (1979)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979)
Samoa (1970)
Seychelles (1976)
Sierra Leone (1961)
Singapore (1965)
Solomon Islands (1978)
South Africa (19316)
Sri Lanka (1948)
Swaziland (1968)
Tanzania (1961)
Tonga (1970)
Trinidad and Tobago (1962)
Tuvalu (1978)
Uganda (1962)
United Kingdom (1931)
Vanuatu (1980)
Zambia (1964)

And in South East Asia the most popular European language for business is English.

On a daily basis, more people speak chinese and spanish as the first or second language, though.

**TosaInu** · 09-22-2005, 08:00

There is not such a thing as one spoken Chinese language. There are many dialects, and one can absolutely not understand the other (further apart than Scottish and Australian). Chinese has an advantage though: the written language is the 'same' everywhere.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 09-21-2005, 20:31

Originally Posted by King Henry V

I suggest the creation of a language patrol, whose member be assigned to certain boards and who have the power to edit people's texts to as to clarify them. Anyone like my idea?

I do fancy the idea of anyone finally translating into English that most mystifying of posts:

'tell what bartix and the faction that replaces armenia got then??'

**Sjakihata** · 09-21-2005, 20:37

Originally Posted by Louis IV the Fat

I do fancy the idea of anyone finally translating into English that most mystifying of posts:

'tell what bartix and the faction that replaces armenia got then??'

Tell me what bartix (non translateable) and the faction that replaces Armenia have got then?

**Mikeus Caesar** · 09-21-2005, 21:28

Originally Posted by Louis IV the Fat

I do fancy the idea of anyone finally translating into English that most mystifying of posts:

'tell what bartix and the faction that replaces armenia got then??'

That is just another of the many mysteries in this world, such as why was Stonehenge built, and why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the tube?

Maybe it is better unsolved.