Text 9618, 129 rader
Skriven 2013-08-10 19:49:25 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
Ärende: Official Language of Fidonet
====================================
Hello Everybody,

Where y'at?

The following is taken from the Holy Bible of FidoNet,
otherwise known as P4 -

 FidoNet Policy Document
 Version 4.07

 1.0  Language

 The official language of FidoNet is English.
 All documents must exist in English.  Translation
 into other languages is encouraged.

This should be clear to all who can read and write
the English language.  Or is it?  After all, there are
many different kinds of English that exists in the world.
As such, which version, dialect, or variation of English
should we use?

Should we use British English?  Even Britons cannot
agree on what is the King's English.  For example, there
is BBC English, which every Doctor Who fan is familiar
with.  There is also English English, which even boggles
the minds of Englishmen, not to mention Englishwomen.
Of course, there is Scottish English, the Scots never
wanting to have anything with England, knowing what
past kings of England have done to Scotland.  Which
is why most Scots call Scottish English just plain
Scots.  Norn is another form of English that is spoken,
and sometimes written.  Welsh English is a most lovable
language used for singing songs, made famous by whales.
Lets not forget about Ulster Scots, and Irish English.
Nor should Hiberno-English, and other dialects spoken
in the British Isles, be forgotten.

Let's look at some other forms of English that exist -

Far from merry ol' England, Antipodean English is spoken.
Broken down into subdivisions, this language includes
Australian English, Aboriginal English, New Zealand English,
Maori English, Tok Pisin, Bislama/Beach la Mer, etc.

Yes, my friends, English is truly an international language.
And this international language is not limited to England,
Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.  Let us continue our
trip around the world, searching for the perfect English
to write our documents in -

East Asian English is spoken by more people than mad dogs
and Englishmen, Australians and Kiwis included.  Broken
down into separate variants of East Asian English you will
find Hong Kong English, Singapore English, Malaysian English,
Philippines English, Japanese English, Chinese English, etc.

Of course, there are more Asians who speak and write English
than just East Asians -

South Asian English is widely spoken, and can be broken down
into variations, such as Indian English, Pakistani English,
Bangladeshi English, Nepalese English, Sri Lankan English,
Burmese English, etc.

Let us not stop in Asia -

African English is widely spoken, and not just by black
folks.  Variations of African English include Nigerian
English, Ghanian English, Cameroon English, Sierra Leone
Kno, West African Pidgin, Kenyan English, Ugandan English,
Tanzanian English, Zambian English, Zimbabwean English,
South African English, etc.

Many peoples in island countries also speak and write English -

Caribbean English is widely spoken in the Caribbean, and can
be broken down into variations, such as Jamaican National
Language, Barbadian/Bajan, Trinidadian, Bahamian, Belizian,
Guyanese, Nicaraguan, etc.

Since P4 was written primarily, if not entirely, by sysops
from zone 1, it stands to reason that the English they were
referring to was either Canadian English or American English.
Let's take a look at Canadian English first -

Canadian English is English spoken and written by Canadians.
Canadian English can be broken down into different variations,
such as Quebec English, Frenglish/Franglais, Newfoundland
English, Athabascan English, Inuit English, Ukrainian English,
etc.

On the other hand, it could be that the Founding Fathers of P4
fully intended the English to be used in FidoNet to be American
English, and no other form of English.  As such, we must take
a closer look at what exactly is American English -

American English can be broken down into many variations,
including Network Standard (spoken language only, reserved
for use by television news broadcasters, with each television
network having its own standard), Eastern New England,
Western New England, Boston Urban, Hudson Valley, New York
City, Bonac, Inland Northern, San Francisco Urban, Upper
Midwestern, Chicago Urban, North Midland, South Midland,
Pennsylvania German-English, Rocky Mountain, Pacific Norethwest,
Pacific Southwest, Southwestern, Ozark, Southern Appalachian,
Virginia Piedmont, Coastal Southern, Gullah, Smoky Mountain
English, Ocracoke, Gulf Southern, Louisiana, etc.

Louisiana is not really a language in and of itself.  However,
there are many different languages widely spoken and written in
Louisiana - Cajun French, Cajun English, Yat, Provincial French,
and Louisiana French Creole.  Cajun English and Yat are very
distinct forms of English, the other languages being French or
derived from French.

I move that Yat be designated the official language of FidoNet,
along with designating the St. Bernard doggie as FidoNet's official
mascot.

For more info on the Yat language, along with pronunciation guide,
visit this url -

http://www.gumbopages.com/yatspeak.html

--Lee

--- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb
 * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)