Op 27-11-13 09:36, Chris Angelico schreef: > On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 7:31 PM, Antoon Pardon > <antoon.par...@rece.vub.ac.be> wrote: >> Op 27-11-13 09:19, Chris Angelico schreef: >>> On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 7:16 PM, Antoon Pardon >>> <antoon.par...@rece.vub.ac.be> wrote: >>>> However that second sentence doesn't make much sense to me. Modern >>>> languages contain a subset that is called the standard language. This >>>> is the subset that is generally taught. Especially to those for whom >>>> the language is foreign. So when you define a specific language to >>>> use on an international forum, it is strongly suggested that people >>>> limit themselves to the standard subset and don't use dialects since >>>> "dialect" AFAIU means it is outside this standard. >>> >>> Do you mean standard British English, standard American English, >>> standard Australian English, or some other? >> >> Does that significantly matter or are you just looking for details >> you can use to disagree? As far as I understand the overlap between >> standard British English and standard American English is so large >> that it doesn't really matter for those who had to learn the language. >> Likewise for the overlap with standard Australian English. > > It matters hugely when your point depends on their being a single > "standard English". The overlap may be large, but all you've done is > either change the terms without solving the problem (because there are > still multiple language variants being used) or create a new language > (the common subset of English across all usages, which is an > impossible target to aim for).
You are nitpicking. I didn't say nor implied their is a perfect solution. However that there is no perfect solution doesn't imply we can't expect some effort from those with english as a mother tongue to search for ways in which to express themselves that are more likely to be understood by those who had to learn english as a foreign language than just to use their local idiom/dialect. I think that is basic respect for those who had to learn the language. -- Antoon Pardon -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
