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  1. #1
    Bringing down the vulgaroisie Member King Henry V's Avatar
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    Default Idea: Language patrols

    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?
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  2. #2
    Vermonter and Seperatist Member Uesugi Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    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.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    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.
    Common Unreflected Drinking Only Smartens

  4. #4
    Bringing down the vulgaroisie Member King Henry V's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    German is easier than English?
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    "We were not born into this world to be happy, but to do our duty." Bismarck
    "You can't be a successful Dictator and design women's underclothing. One or the other. Not both." The Right Hon. Bertram Wilberforce Wooster
    "Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; the best of life is but intoxication" - Lord Byron
    "Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires, athletes, or film-stars instead: even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison." - C. S. Lewis

  5. #5
    Urwendur Ûrîbêl Senior Member Mouzafphaerre's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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.
    .
    Ja mata Tosa Inu-sama, Hore Tore, Adrian II, Sigurd, Fragony

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  6. #6
    Lesbian Rebel Member Mikeus Caesar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    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.
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  7. #7

    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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?
    Common Unreflected Drinking Only Smartens

  8. #8
    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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.
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  9. #9
    Member Member Del Arroyo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    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

  10. #10
    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
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    Default Re : Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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.
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  11. #11
    Urwendur Ûrîbêl Senior Member Mouzafphaerre's Avatar
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    Talking Re: Idea: Language patrols

    .
    Quote Originally Posted by Papewaio
    Australia (19311)

    .

    Ja mata Tosa Inu-sama, Hore Tore, Adrian II, Sigurd, Fragony

    Mouzafphaerre is known elsewhere as Urwendil/Urwendur/Kibilturg...
    .

  12. #12

    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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.
    Common Unreflected Drinking Only Smartens

  13. #13
    Nur-ad-Din Forum Administrator TosaInu's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    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.
    Ja mata

    TosaInu

  14. #14
    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
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    Default Re : Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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??'
    Anything unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
    Texan by birth, woodpecker by the grace of God
    I would be the voice of your conscience if you had one - Brenus
    Bt why woulf we uy lsn'y Staraft - Fragony
    Not everything
    blue and underlined is a link


  15. #15

    Default Re: Re : Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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?
    Common Unreflected Drinking Only Smartens

  16. #16
    Lesbian Rebel Member Mikeus Caesar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Re : Idea: Language patrols

    Quote 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.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ranika
    I'm being assailed by a mental midget of ironically epic proportions. Quick as frozen molasses, this one. Sharp as a melted marble. It's disturbing. I've had conversations with a braying mule with more coherence.


  17. #17

    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    Or why sheep dont shrink when it rains, or why dont submarines have parachutes, when airplanes have lifejackets.
    Common Unreflected Drinking Only Smartens

  18. #18
    Ja mata, TosaInu Forum Administrator edyzmedieval's Avatar
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    Default Re: Idea: Language patrols

    King Henry,

    Aren't you a bit communist?! You want power. Too patronizing.

    Mouzaphaerre, how many and what languages do you know?!
    Ja mata, TosaInu. You will forever be remembered.

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