On 2009-12-17, Jean-Marc Lasgouttes wrote:
> Le 17/12/2009 21:54, Jürgen Spitzmüller a écrit :
>> rgheck wrote:
>>> The other thing I should say is that, in my opinion, the
>>> inner-quote/outer-quote distinction is just the wrong one for us to
>>> make.
...
> My first proposal at the time was to have "quotes" and "alternative
> quotes" and let people set them as they like. We can of course provide
> resonable language-based defaults.
The wikipedia says in its article about quotes in English usage:
Single or double quotation marks denote either speech or a quotation.
Neither style – single nor double – is an absolute rule, though double
quotation marks are preferred in the United States, and both single and
double quotation marks are used in the United Kingdom. A publisher’s,
or even an author’s, style may take precedence over national general
preferences.
...
For speech within speech, the other is used as inner quotation marks...
...
Another common use of quotation marks is to indicate or call attention
to ironic or apologetic words:
He shared his “wisdom” with me.
The lunch lady plopped a glob of “food” onto my tray.
To avoid the potential for confusion between ironic quotes and direct
quotations, some style guides specify single quotation marks for this
usage, and double quotation marks for verbatim speech.
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark
There is also a detailed description about usage in non-English languages
(including CJK).
* In Japan, corner brackets are used.
* In South Korea and Mainland China, English-style quotes are used.
* In North Korea, angle quotes are used.
* In the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau where Traditional Chinese is
used, corner brackets are prevalent, but English-style quotes are
also used.
* In the Chinese language, double angle brackets are used around
titles [...]. When nested, single angle brackets are used inside
double angle brackets.
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark,_non-English_usage
All in all, it seem the distinction:
single-quotes vs. double-quotes
is sufficiently generic and should be used for the LFUN names.
It is then up to the user to define sensible keybindings for the quoting
LFUNs.
This would make "British quotes" redundant (and avoid the
discussion about the "correct British quotes").
Günter
