On Sat, 2 Feb 2019 at 11:21, Sergio Manzi <s...@smz.it> wrote: > > Thank-you for confirming that, Mark. > > Personally I think we, in OSM, should stop with this folly of overloading > English words with meanings they do not have in any dictionary (be it AmE, > BrE, CaE, or whatever). > > Both the "ditch" and "drain" words can be used to describe certain features > in English. The difference is essentially an etymological one, with one > related to the process of excavation (dig -> ditch) and the other to the > function of carrying liquids away (dry -> drain). > > If we want to precisely map certain characteristics of a feature we should do > it explicitly through a correct data model that takes into consideration the > particular aspect we are trying to communicate. We want to communicate the > information that a (small) waterway is lined with concrete? Just say that > with an appropriate tag, like e.g. lined=*, or lining=*. We want to > communicate the information that a (small) waterway is used to carry waste > water away? Once again, let's say that with an appropriate tag, like e.g. > usage=* (please ignore if the specific tags I put in the examples are not of > your liking: not the point here, let's discuss that later...). > > Arbitrarily overloading words with meanings they do not have in the common > language is just a perfect way to Babel, that is a reduction in information.
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