[SETI20]

I was having this discussion with jfrolang in another topic. But it was off-topic and inappropriate there. So I thought I'd flare up some emotions here instead hehehe.

I mean this solely as an open discussion. I'm not bashing on Jeff or anyone else in any way. I just like to argue...and this is something that relates to me personally.

We've been having more and more international members here lately.
Somehow, we got into the discussion that English is the only "allowed" language on this board.

I'll make a few quick quotes:

Hello

My name is Lukas and my english not very good.Ill come from Vienna/Austria

Es macht nichts, mein Deutsch ist auch nicht so gut. Willkommen, und du hast ein wirklich schönes Auto!

Ja Deutsch kann ich besser aber beim English sprechen war ich nie der beste.
Lukas

You'll get in trouble unless you write only in English.

You'll get in trouble unless you write only in English.

Who? Lukas or me? (;

Both. there's some rule. Bas once posted in Dutch with Flamegurl (who is also Dutch) and they got in trouble.

We did?

I think it was just a reminder that forum posts should be in English. Any other language leaves most of us in the cold.

Cultural diversity, in my opinion, should be welcomed...in a community.
What harm can it possibly do if someone posts in a different language every once in a while.

It's educational, fun, and on occasion might even get a point across better.
I'm lucky to have had the education that gave my my level of English proficiency. Not everyone has.

Plus, some words, phrases and proverbs don't translate well at all.
They are much more appropriate in their respective original language.

I even had to look up a word or 2 for this post. Loosen up.
Or, like we say in Holland: Nie zeikuh! (please don't ban me :lol: )

The community rules state:

- English only please! We'd like as many people to be able to enjoy this forum and its posts as much as possible, and not everyone speaks French, German, Dutch, etc.

I see more than one practical problem with enforcing this rule, and hardly any advantages to it. I even find it a little bit shortsighted.
Granted, not all of you speak French, German, Dutch, etc. In fact...most of you don't speak any foreign language. Which is a crying shame really.

But you have to understand, that it's not always easy to get a point across for a foreigner. You can't punish someone for that. Just be glad they are making an effort to contribute to this ever growing community.

Any other language leaves most of us in the cold.

With growth comes diversity. You have to understand it's not always easy for "us" to get our point across. Want to talk about being left out in the cold...? :lol:

It's not like ze Germanz are invading or anything. Why do "you people" (ya, ya..I know, generalization) start to panic when there are a couple of words here and there that you can't figure out?
Buy a dictionary! Edjumacate yourself! Besides, it's FUN!

Discuss. I'ma grab some popcorn and sit back. 8)

 

[JKG08]

I didn't know there was a rule that said english only......that's pretty stupid if you ask me........you can say that not everyone speaks German but can't a German or someone else argue that they don't speak english? seems like a dumb thing to even argue about if you ask me.....but SETI is right......this will be fun to watch haha

 

[SaskCRX]

I think that maybe when someone who wishes to speak another language they should have their own topics and beside the title put (german) or (spanish) for the language you are going to be speaking.

 

[etmydst]

MY OPINION<<<<

This forum is Of U.S. origin so I suspect English would be appropriate.

This brings up the moral Issue as If you are around a bunch of friends/family who speak english and nothing else, but you and your friend speak SPANISH ONLY (but do speak good english) to each other It is in "bad manners" so to say.. This happens all the time in my household as my wife is mexican, and I am samoan/filipino/ german , And I often think it is rude when my mother in law and my wife speak in spanish ,In front of my NON-SPANISH speaking family..

If I went to a spanish site and expected everyone to cater to me because the language barrier , That would be stupid.

If you KNOW ENGLISH, and are on a predominately English speaking site then I would say speak english. On that thread a person said WELL USE A TRANSLATOR to translate the foreign language .. why not the foriegn language speaker use the translator to speak english in an english site, makes more sense..??

Thats just my opinion I have nothing against it, but it just goes with the age old saying

While in "insert country" do as the "insert country's" do

 

[SETI20]

.. why not the foriegn language speaker use the translator to speak english in an english site, makes more sense..??

We do. And they're often useless. Type in an English phrase. Translate to Dutch. And back to English. Just see what you get

While in "insert country" do as the "insert country's" do

Very true. But the internet has no borders.

 

[Dodo]

With this, id have to say, and im guessing here, that 65 to 70% of the members here are either from America or Canada. America teaches English and Canada teaches French and English. So with that number, id say that upwards of 75 to 80% of members speak or type in English. And 95 to 100% of posting members speak and/or type in English.

All this is numbers that ive made up but i think are somewhat true.

Now grated that some people cant type English, you are right in saying that most of use Americains cant read other languages. So the question would be, how would you think about having other languages on here where everyone would be happy?

 

[etmydst]

.. why not the foriegn language speaker use the translator to speak english in an english site, makes more sense..??

We do. And they're often useless. Type in an English phrase. Translate to Dutch. And back to English. Just see what you get

same here If I translate an english phrase to say a german or swedish phrase (as I have with some of my 1st gen foreign buddies) It comes out all MESSED up.

On my 1st gen forum we have A LOT of foreign people,Most of them do their best to write English and are not frowned upon grammar wise.. I mean, I could understand If you know NO ENGLISH whatsoever, but then again how the hell would you know what the site is about or "what to post in regards to whatever"

Obviously If you know English fairly well or even remotely well, Why not write in it on an english forum It will just expand your english skills?

 

[SETI20]

Obviously If you know English fairly well or even remotely well, Why not write in it on an english forum It will just expand your english skills?

This is basically what it boils down to. The willingness to try and understand someone, and the xenophobia of some people around. Communication works both ways.

Foreigners are doing their best to be comprehensible in "your" language. What is wrong with meeting them half way, when they fall short?

Granted, it could become annoying when foreigners have entire topics in their own language. But by that time, the site would obviously have picked up so many foreign members, that it might merit a foreign moderator, with a special section on the website.

Up until that point, I don't really understand this rule. Especially since this site has so few rules, it must be an important one.

 

[jfrolang]

Everyone that comes here speaks English, or they wouldn't have found the site, registered, or posted. I don't think anyone has a problem with an occasional post or two, but we shouldn't have members that are posting exclusively in other languages. We definitely shouldn't have whole threads in other languages, it's instant segregation.

 

[SETI20]

I think foreign members "clique" more, because they are somewhat singled out.
It's nice to post on a remote website, knowing you might never meet the people you converse with, and find out there's someone around somewhat closer to where you are, and with whom you can relate a bit.

Those strange Cannucks seem to have a really strong tendency for that! :lol:

 

[etmydst]

OK.

It's English, with a capital E, not english. :wink:
Same for Spanish, German, Dutch or Swahili.

LOL I know its in capitals , But I'm 6ft 250lbs with huge fingers with a stupid tiny keyboard my wife bought.. Keystrokes are not easy for me.. And every time I hit the shift, I hit the caps lock and everything stays capital. Then I get mad and blame my size and fat fingers on my S<amoan heritage, It's all a big mess.. OK now I have to cry..Thanks a lot Mark now I have to pop an un-needed ZOLOFT..

 

[Ragnaarok]

First off, I'm all for multiple languages and especially foreign member contribution. I say have a vote just like any other community idea in the feedback forum and/or voting section to read the need for one or more foreign sections or separate topics.

However, I agree with some in that the use of more languages divides the community. Separate topics or a section of the site dedicated to this would instantly isolate many members. I would rather see the minority trying to communicate with the majority in the majority language.

This would ensure exposure to more members for advice, problem solving, and general camaraderie like many of us already enjoy. Lets face it, English has become a very widespread language around the world, and it's not unfair to expect it as a common communication tool (especially on an internet forum based in America).

Additionally, who would moderate the foreign language content, and hold it to the high standards we have for the English content on the site?

Making this site an international and multilingual affair will take a focused effort and the cooperation of the group. I don't see this a priority of most members; however, there may very well be a group of lurkers just waiting to get together and discuss in their native tongue, and who am I to say they can't.

 

[etmydst]

Ahhh Who cares lol...

Fa'a pefea mai oe? E te malamalama i le faa Siamani?

 

[imgoingforit]

Ahhh Who cares lol...

Fa'a pefea mai oe?

REPORTED!

 

[signalpuke]

ze Germanz are invading

WHAT! WHERE!

LOL, sorry, I had to. :lol:

I don't care what language someone speaks, (sarcasm on)just keep in mind that I am an American and therefore I am inherently selfish and lazy. Whether I go to bablefish to translate something solely depends on my mood. (sarcasm off) LOL

You bring up good points SETI, and I enjoy your sense of humor :lol:

 

[azulito]

Having people posting in different languages on the CRXCommunity website only makes life that much more interesting; therefore subduing thoughts of suicide from the groundhog effect.

 

[Ragnaarok]

Too much joking not enough argument.

[ban]
*.*
[/ban]

:twisted:

 

[baker_jeff]

I think it's neat if people can communicate in other languages.

 

[ollie]

Although I understand your point Bas,I must side with Jeff in the fact that the "majority" speak English.
I also see problems in moderating a "said" foreign language thread.
Now I don't have a problem when people add foreign language to a thread.Actually it makes me look up Babelfish and try to find out what has been said! :lol:

IMO its kinda fun to add a bit of foreign language once in a while to "liven" up a thread,but a thread/forum devoted just to a foreign language? I'm sure there are planty of German honda boards,or Dutch Honda boards for that kind of thing.

....On a side note I'm slowly learning French by asking Penz phrases..

 

[Synoptic]

Here's my opinion.

on pgmfi.org, we created many forums for many countries. We have Dutch, Greek, Italian, Spanish, German, French. If we have a request to add a new forum we'll do it.

Sure, I can't understand anything going into the non French/English forum. Maybe they're planning the next terrorist attack, but I doubt so.

I think it's great to have some foreing language post slip into English post here. I think that non - English posters know that posting solely in non-English does not contribute very much to the community, so I guess they will only phrase-up a little. btw, I dont mind having complete topics in language I cannot understand, because I wont be reading them anyway.

if you feel excluded when you see something you can't read, you should ask yourself why... If there is something looking funny in a language I cant understand, I'll ask what's up !

Point is : Post in whatever language you want. But, try as most as you can to make the community profit of your post. Otherwise, you might just exclude yourself from the others. Then again, I dont think anyone wants to exclude themselves, so I really don't see a problem to see non-English text slip inside topics.

On another subjet, does anyone ever took Japanese class ? I'm subscribing to a Japanese class tuesday at Univerity of Montreal. It will be the first level. Anything I can do to help me learn better?