This is what we have to put up with in the software localisation industry.

I can’t believe nobody has done this list yet. I mean, there is one about names, one about time and many others on other topics, but not one about languages yet (except one honorable mention that comes close). So, here’s my attempt to list all the misconceptions and prejudices I’ve come across in the course of my long and illustrious career in software localisation and language technology. Enjoy – and send me your own ones!

  • Björn Lindström@social.sdfeu.org
    3·
    16 hours ago

    @TrickDacy @rimu another example is Irish, which I’ve heard claim as an explanation for Irish English also contains more of “it is/isn’t” and such constructs in favour of yes no.

    Another European example is Finnish which has yes but not no. You want me to go on?

    • cgtjsiwy@programming.dev
      2·
      8 hours ago

      Another European example is Finnish which has yes but not no.

      No in Finnish is ei, similar to Estonian ei or Swedish nej.

      • Björn Lindström@social.sdfeu.org
        2·
        7 hours ago

        @cgtjsiwy sorry, was a bit simplistic there. Finish is instead an example of a language where while there _is_ a word for “logical” no that’s not the usual way to answer yes/no questions.

        If we’re being pedantic this means it’s not similar to Swedish “nej” for most uses of the latter.

    • Björn Lindström@social.sdfeu.org
      3·
      16 hours ago

      @TrickDacy @rimu guess I should have mentioned Latin as well, which is a bit interesting. Latin didn’t have yes/no, but a lot of modern romance languages does, where things like “si” and “oui” derive from Latin words that had other meanings.