andreas
Joined: May 02
Points: 8313
Posts: 809
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Posted: 2007-11-05 16:56:00
Hello everybody,
there has always been some postings in languages than english on GLOBOsapiens. While I did not actually support such attempts, I did tolerate them as we are a global community. Recently however this has become a problem. GLOBO's main language is english and there are very good reasons for it.
For example it it does fragment GLOBOsapiens and this is a bad thing as not everybody is able to read for example dutch. It also creates a problem for myself as I am not able to judge comments for example. There are much more reasons. So posting in foreign language once in a while is OK. Overdoing it is not even close to OK. Please keep that in mind for your future postings.
I was also reading a guest book posting which claimed that GLOBO is multilingual and only the menu is in english. This is not true. You can communicate with messages on GLOBO in other languages than english, but postings that are visible to everybody should remain in english.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
Andy
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adampl
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Joined: Jun 07
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Posted: 2007-11-07 23:28:00
Hi,
I think we should always try to balance between our mother tongue and English when writing on Globo. I sometimes use Polish, but only when signing guestbooks of members from Poland. Otherwise I always use English so that everybody can read what I write, but as far as guestbooks are concerned I think it's OK to write in other languages. For me it's strange and unnatural to communicate with Polish members in English.
Best,
Adam
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bineba
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Joined: Jul 04
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Posted: 2007-11-08 08:46:00
I know where you are coming from, Adam. I always find it quite tempting to write in my native German to my fellow countrymen and -women, but usually just limit myself to a greeting or a sign off in German. Saying that, I don't think guestbook entries are the real issue here, it's the photo discriptions and the photo and report comments.
I think it is great that globo is such a diverese community (how many nationalies have we got on here now?), but I also believe it is important to stick to English, even if the English is not so great. I think we are all adults here, who appreciate it, if somebody is making an effort and nobody should be put off of using and enjoying the site, thinking their English isn't good enough.
I realise it is slightly different if you are not actually face to face with somebody, but I, for example, only speak in German with my German partner when we are at home or on our own. As soon as we are in company we'll speak in English with each other (at least here in England). This has become second nature now.
And don't forget, there is always the option to communicate in any language you want by private message using the contact button.
Sabine
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Sabine
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adampl
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Joined: Jun 07
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Posted: 2007-11-08 10:47:00
Totally agree, Sabine. Comments should be in English. I also have another problem, when writing about Poland I never know which name to use - the international one or the Polish one (e.g. Kraków or Cracow). First I had preferred to use the international one as its more understandable for foreigners, but then I realised non-Polish members also use Polish names instead of international ones (e.g. Wroclaw insted of Breslau). But in the end I decided using international names would be better after all.
Adam
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rangutan
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Joined: Aug 04
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Posted: 2007-11-15 10:15:00
I would like to see GLOBO eventually be multi-lingual with English being the basis. I imagine GLOBO in 5 years being ONE databank but having language options for:
- buttons
- instructions
- terms and conditions
- a forum for each language
This would all be moderated by voluntary "tutors" or "ambassadors" for each language or region.
I love to see some foreign text occasionally and encourage multi-lingual entries, it promotes the site since only a third of the world understands English. There are enough free translation tools for computers for those that don't understand. If in doubt, ask a fellow member!
RR ---
Rudolf "Rangutan" Graspointner
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andreas
Joined: May 02
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Posted: 2007-11-15 11:23:00
Hello Rudi,
regarding buttons etc. This might become true in the far future.
regarding text in foreign languages: I do not agree. I feel it is the same as you would be sitting on one table and everybody speaks a different language. Everybody sticks to english (which is no doubt the language you definatelly need while you are traveling), and two guys do an "Extrawurscht" (try to digg that one up with a translation programm! :-) ) and start to speak in German for example. That would be in general considered rude as the other ones to not understand. Same here at GLOBO.
My statement to this is still the same: Postings inside GLOBO should be in english language. A sentence or two in between with another language are OK. Everything that exceeds this should go into private messages.
Best regards,
andy
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davidx
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Joined: Dec 04
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Posted: 2007-11-15 20:54:00
I have enjoyed practicing Spanish at times in messages for guestbooks of Spanish or South American members, but in general I agree with what you say, Andy, and I shall mend my ways.
I shall still use the flexibility you suggest to give a sentence or two welcome in Spanish - or even some other language - but I accept the point that anything more should be on the private contact button.
Cheers
David ---
Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can.
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