LL-L "Language use" 2002.09.12 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 12.SEP.2002 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: globalmoose at t-online.de (Global Moose Translations)
Subject: LL-L "Language use" 2002.09.11 (04) [D/E/V]

Hoi Frans,

of course I like it when people write in their native tongues and have
no
problem with that; having worked in the translation/localization
business
and lived abroad for many years, I have developed the skill of reading
practically every Germanic or Romanic language, along with a few scraps
of
others. Also, I consider English my second "native" tongue for all
intents
and purposes, and am equally comfortable with expressing myself in
Dutch.
Oddly, however, as I stated before, I cannot, or no longer, express
myself
in what should be my native dialect - Lower Saxon. Except for some
phrases,
it just won't come out any more, especially not within a forum of
experts!

My real concern was that what you wrote may have sounded rather
discouraging
to some (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way!). I imagined, let's say,
a
Russian, Greek or Japanese (who, for example, couldn't very well post in
their native language, if only because of the problems with character
sets,
fonts etc.). Now wouldn't a Russian, for instance, feel discriminated
when
being accused of writing in "watery, soulless English", or, even worse,
of
just writing in English to show off, and not feel very welcome on the
forum??

As I said, I don't think you meant it that way, but that's how it came
across at first - at least to me.

I think Ron already said something along those lines, but I don't think
there is such a thing as "soulless" English from none-native speakers
(except for German, Dutch, Japanese etc. pseudo-English advertising
jingles,
which I shudder to think about), no matter how rudimentary their
knowledge
may be. I have always loved the way every ethnic group creates their own
flavour of the language with variations in pronunciation, grammar,
metaphors, choice of words... which still says a lot about their own
native
language and culture. If somebody, for example, decided to post in
Hindi, it
would be completely lost to me; but if that same person posts in his or
her
very own flavour of English, it might perhaps not tell me much about the
soul of British English, but it would certainly contain the soul of
Hindi,
which I would otherwise not be able to even catch a glimpse of.

As to written or spoken Scots - I feel about that the same way the lady
in
"A fish called Wanda" feels about Russian, so bring it on any time!! :-)

Best regards,
Gabriele Kahn

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From: erek gass <egass at caribline.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language use" 2002.09.11 (05) [D/E]

Just a little sad to see references to "American Imperialism".  I'm a
"realistic" American, and accept that both my nation and its people have
some flaws (hey, I'll bet that can be said about a few other nations as
well!).  Before using terms like "imperialism", define the meaning,
please!  In recent history (my lifetime), I haven't seen the USA take
over any other nation, if we've been at war, we have helped rebuild the
nations we fought against, nor have I seen overt aggression initiated by
the USA.

Propagating and repeating convenient myths about ANY nation or its
people is unwarranted.  And it seems particularly unfruitful in a
co-operative, friendly experience such as this group is.  America and
Americans are just a nation and a people as good, and as defective, as
most others.

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