[Lowlands-l] Google Translate

Fri Jul 21 13:09:22 UTC 2017

Sorry, guys, I have no time for this any more. I’m off. (Und danke, Marlou, für die Tipps.)

Mathias

Von: LOWLANDS-L [mailto:lowlands-l-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org] Im Auftrag von Lowlands Languages & Cultures
Gesendet: Freitag, 21. Juli 2017 09:54
An: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
Betreff: Re: [Lowlands-l] Google Translate

Hello all,

in the wake of the Google and Facebook topic, I would like to add that these people https://swiftkey.com/de are working on a Low German keyboard app. If you look up the supported languages here https://swiftkey.com/de/keyboard/android/, you don't see it, but here https://support.swiftkey.com/hc/en-us/articles/201598431-What-languages-are-currently-supported-for-SwiftKey-on-Android- it is listed. Don't ask me how to install Low German for the app, I hate typing on a smartphone and haven't got the app. 

As to the dialect or type of Low German implemented there, it will be rather strict Sass Platt. My friend Hein Thies http://heinrichthies.de/, a man of immeasurable merit and unceasing activity for Platt, is working on it and supplying the Swiftkey people with his word lists for the Sass Dictionaries http://sassplatt.de/ which he updates and continues. But of course the app is thought to "learn" from it's user, so it should be possible to train it to any other dialect... I would like to know, but still I won't install the app :-)

Hartlich Gröten from North Germany!

Marlou

Am 21.07.2017 um 08:49 schrieb Lowlands Languages & Cultures:

The question of "closest£ when it comes to languages is very dependent on definition.  A philological tree re[resents how different languages developed; it doesn't reflect intelligibility. The classic case is the Scandinavian languages. Norwegian classifies as a West Norse language, on a branch with Faroese and Icelandic. Swedish is East Norse, a distinct branch.  The reality is that most Norwegians would struggle to understand more than a handful of words of Icelandic, but can converse with a Swede comfortably.

Paul

  _____  

From: Lowlands Languages & Cultures  <mailto:lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org> <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
To: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org 
Sent: Friday, 21 July 2017, 6:50
Subject: Re: [Lowlands-l] Google Translate

I don't like the idea of creating a kind of rivalry between minority languages so this thread makes me feel uncomfortable. West Frisian is (as the North Frisian languages and Saterfrisian) a language of its own, even if it might show results of the contact to Dutch. I might say the same about Dutch as I wasn't able to learn it because my Low Saxon was stronger and taking control. I can read Dutch without big problems - so Dutch isn't more than a Low Saxon dialect, right? Okay, that was a pun. I hope you get my point.
Why cannot we applaude Google Translate and Facebook for their decision and work on for getting the same for Low Saxon and other minority languages?

As for the relations between the languages around the North Sea: Through the centuries they had many contacts because of migration, trade and politics. Of course that had an impact on the languages. English is even the best example how a language develops because of history. Anglo-Saxons, Danes, Normans - they all came to conquer what we know today as England. They all brought their own languages as sign of their mastery.

Greetings from Kiel,

Anja

<-----Ursprungligt Meddelande----->

From: Lowlands Languages & Cultures [lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org]
Sent: 20/7/2017 9:50:18 PM
To: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
Subject: Re: [Lowlands-l] Google Translate 

Yes. Definitely lively, that's why we should make Google add it.

I really don't see the point of making West Frisian a seperate language though, 

as it doesn't contain that much of a unique vocabulary, and strongly resembles Dutch.  

בתאריך 20 ביולי 2017 8:24 אחה״צ,‏ "Lowlands Languages & Cultures" < <mailto:lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org> lowlands-l at listserv. linguistlist.org> כתב:

On 20/07/2017 11:18 AM, Eitan wrote:

Hi all,

  I've requested Facebook they should add low german into their language poll since they recently had added West Frisian which isn't much an obvious choice.

That being the case, to my surprise Google Translate added West Frisian as well.

I don't consider West frisian the closest language to English language because of certain reasons. Here's what I wrote:

Low german (of plaudietsch language) is spoken by 450,000 people around the world, which is about on par with Frisian on the total. It has a rich body of literature, including the bible, and many unique expressions and vowel sounds.  

Compared to what is spoken in west friesland, it's a fully-fledged and dynamic language. And while it is true that Frisian is recognised minority language in the Netherlands, Plautdietsch is recognised in belize and has a minority status there.

Do you agree?

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf55TFRG-2w> https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=tf55TFRG-2w
 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lV4S4VLhV0> https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=9lV4S4VLhV0
 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdaLj8jkJfI> https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=EdaLj8jkJfI

Sure doesn't look dead to me.

Ed Alexander

______________________________ _________________
LOWLANDS-L mailing list
 <mailto:LOWLANDS-L at listserv.linguistlist.org> LOWLANDS-L at listserv.linguistli st.org
 <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/mailman/listinfo/lowlands-l> http://listserv.linguistlist.o rg/mailman/listinfo/lowlands-l

_______________________________________________
LOWLANDS-L mailing list
LOWLANDS-L at listserv.linguistlist.org
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/mailman/listinfo/lowlands-l

_______________________________________________
LOWLANDS-L mailing list
LOWLANDS-L at listserv.linguistlist.org
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/mailman/listinfo/lowlands-l

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20170721/3507ce16/attachment.htm>