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09/16/2005 02:55:38 PM · #51 |
I think I will wait until this is something that DPC undertakes.
No offence to anyone actively participating in this discussion, but I have turned of the signatures as I found a great number of them, boring, distracting, cumbersome.... and the list goes on.
Mind you... when I find a thread that gets my attention, and/or I find the participants involved interesting, I quickly view their profiles and in most instances get a fairly good idea as to their location and what language(s) they most likely speak.
Ray |
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09/16/2005 03:19:49 PM · #52 |
I'm not sure why people are so hung up on using flags; they present problems of recognition/correlation re: both country depicted (how many of us would recognize the Icelandic flag? The flag of the Bahamas?) and languages spoken (how many of us know the official language of the Bahamas? Which language is a Canadian or a Swiss speaking?).
What's wrong with just having a TEXT field in the box on the left that states one's fluency in English and/or other tongues?
(icon) RayEthier
Canon EOS-20D
English fluency: high
Other languages: French, Swahili, Mandarin
Robt.
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09/16/2005 03:25:09 PM · #53 |
Originally posted by bear_music:
I'm not sure why people are so hung up on using flags; they present problems of recognition/correlation re: both country depicted (how many of us would recognize the Icelandic flag? The flag of the Bahamas?) and languages spoken (how many of us know the official language of the Bahamas? Which language is a Canadian or a Swiss speaking?).
What's wrong with just having a TEXT field in the box on the left that states one's fluency in English and/or other tongues?
(icon) RayEthier
Canon EOS-20D
English fluency: high
Other languages: French, Swahili, Mandarin
Robt. |
HERE, HERE! Ich stimme zu! Flags are still fun. Both would be good. =)
Message edited by author 2005-09-16 15:26:56.
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09/16/2005 04:48:38 PM · #54 |
Originally posted by bear_music:
What's wrong with just having a TEXT field in the box on the left that states one's fluency in English and/or other tongues?
(icon) RayEthier
Canon EOS-20D
English fluency: high
Other languages: French, Swahili, Mandarin
Robt. |
This is a great idea! I've met a Swiss national whose English was great even though it was his fourth or fifth language On the other hand, some of the residents of London speak a version of English that's difficult for me to understand--it seemed closer to what Benny Hill spoke :-) |
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09/16/2005 05:01:29 PM · #55 |
Originally posted by hankk:
...I've met a Swiss national whose English was great even though it was his fourth or fifth language On the other hand, some of the residents of London speak a version of English that's difficult for me to understand--it seemed closer to what Benny Hill spoke :-) |
Could we add dialects? Here's mine.
ldowse
Canon EOS 350D Rebel XT
English fluency: 'pends on whar yer from
Dialect: Southern
Other languages: Redneck, southern drawl, country hick, pig latin
Ya'll can't fergit 'bout all the dialects now!
;-)
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09/16/2005 05:27:42 PM · #56 |
| Flags (displaying them, anyway) eat bandwidth. |
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09/16/2005 06:13:39 PM · #57 |
Deixa esse assunto morrer:) O site é americano, então, logicamente, é no inglês.
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09/16/2005 06:53:18 PM · #58 |
I really do not see the use in dividing members into native English Speaker and non-native English speaker catagories. If I'm a non-native English speaker and I say this is an asinine idea brought about by ignorance and stupidity, are people going to take the time, in an understanding way, to help me realize that I phrased my posting in a way that might offend others? If that is the case, then there might be some educational use to the idea, but I doubt many of our non-native English speaking members come here to hone their English writing skills. At the rate some comments get jumped on by the pack, I can see people with lower English writing skills being even more reluctant to enter discussions than they might already be.
I think we should all remember that the tone we use in our disscussions sets the tone for others. We can set an inclusive tone, or an exclusive tone. The idea of flags to represent where people live is a great idea for all of us to realize how diverse a group we are. However, I do not think distinguishing someone's English language ability has the same inclusive tone. If we really are concerned with reducing the number of insulting, misleading, or hurtful postings, then maybe we should all practice a little more constraint into what we say.
My 2 yen. - Rod |
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09/16/2005 09:08:29 PM · #59 |
Originally posted by risu81:
I really do not see the use in dividing members into native English Speaker and non-native English speaker catagories. If I'm a non-native English speaker and I say this is an asinine idea brought about by ignorance and stupidity, are people going to take the time, in an understanding way, to help me realize that I phrased my posting in a way that might offend others? If that is the case, then there might be some educational use to the idea, but I doubt many of our non-native English speaking members come here to hone their English writing skills. At the rate some comments get jumped on by the pack, I can see people with lower English writing skills being even more reluctant to enter discussions than they might already be.
I think we should all remember that the tone we use in our disscussions sets the tone for others. We can set an inclusive tone, or an exclusive tone. The idea of flags to represent where people live is a great idea for all of us to realize how diverse a group we are. However, I do not think distinguishing someone's English language ability has the same inclusive tone. If we really are concerned with reducing the number of insulting, misleading, or hurtful postings, then maybe we should all practice a little more constraint into what we say.
My 2 yen. - Rod |
I am sorry , I disagree. I think that quite often a phrase or words used in posts may be misused and cause people to react strongly. If readers know that the person is not using their first language, they may be less likely to respond so vehemently. Also it may give the writer more confidence to post if others understand that mistakes are likely and the difficulties in expressing oneself in a second language. "practising a little more constraint" is not easy when you are using a second language and want to get your point across!
Indeed in your own post I find it difficult to understand what you mean by "I say this is an asinine idea brought about by ignorance and stupidity". I am giving you the benefit of the doubt : if you are a native English speaker this comment is quite rude but if you are not then I can give you the benefit of the doubt - my whole point exactly.
I have said all along that the idea of flags to show nationality is not necessary , in fact we all know we are a diverse community and our locations can usually be identified from the profile page. However I have no idea if you, in Japan, are Japanese, English, American, Indian etc etc. An indication of your native language however would help me to read your posts with more tolerance.
Certainly I would expect those persons writing in English, and it being their first language, would know how to express themselves "with constraint" and in an non offensive manner. We are unable to use the usual visual body language to differentiate intention when we are not speaking in person so a greater care is required in how we phrase ourselves. This is something difficult for someone writing in a second language.
Pauline
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09/16/2005 10:38:23 PM · #60 |
Originally posted by leaf:
Language: |
What does Canadian sound like?
How about this graphic for non-English speakers;
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09/16/2005 11:19:05 PM · #61 |
| Depends what part of the country your in, eh? ;) |
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09/17/2005 12:25:48 AM · #62 |
Originally posted by Riponlady:
I am sorry , I disagree. I think that quite often a phrase or words used in posts may be misused and cause people to react strongly. If readers know that the person is not using their first language, they may be less likely to respond so vehemently. |
I agree that people will misuse words or phrase. People are also going to use the same words or phrases to push other people's buttons. I do not think it matters if people use or misuse the same words. We should all take a little more time in choosing how we reply to postings that push our buttons. I have followed a few threads that should have died a silent and quick death, but before you know it you have a thread that is 100+ replies long. At times it is almost like being in elementary school. I know it is more fun to add my own little dig, or my own witty remark to a thread than to just ignore something, but not feeding a thread would do a lot more good to building a positive community than knowing if people are native English speakers or not. IMHO
Respectfully,
Rod |
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