LL-L "Language politics" 2008.12.12 (06) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 12 December 2008 - Volume 06
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From: Luc Hellinckx <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language politics"

Beste Ron,



I was saying that I advocate representation of *all* languages recognized
within a given locale. Of course, this presumes that all regional language
be indeed recognized.



Quite logical...on paper, that is. In a static, local situation.



Here in Belgium, where traffic is dense and quite often transit, drivers can
easily get confused. One second, you're heading for Lille (big city in
Northern France), the next moment nothing but "Rijsel" on every
signpost...then Lille again. Or you think you're really driving to Aachen
(in Germany), but all of a sudden it seems you're wrong 'cause all you can
see is "Aix-la-Chappelle".



Now, on a highway, this isn't sooo bad, 'cause you usually have enough time
to figure out what's going on. If you're on ring road around a big city,
it's much more difficult (and dangerous!) to put too much information on a
signpost. Bear in mind that in Belgium, on a ring road, the distance between
two exits is usually very small. If you then overload every signpost with
redundant information, this will only confuse a foreign driver. Moreover,
the ring road of Brussels (R0) is partly Flemish, partly Walloonian and
partly Brussels territory. So if we want to be good students, we'd have to
label everything in Dutch, French and even Brussels dialect. Maybe even in
German, as it is also an official language in Belgium. But not in English, I
guess. Come on, we'd end up with signposts twice as high as those for Mac
Donalds *s*.



I advocate a different (European) rule for international traffic (that does
not take local sensitivities into account). Once, you're off the highway,
it's a totally different matter.



Kind greetings,



Luc Hellinckx

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