Wouter
Steenbeek wrote:
But I prefer you to hold this discussion in
English, indeed to hold
any discussion on this list in English.
I am sure many people will "prefer" that, but that doesn't stop us from
using other languages whenever we feel like it.
There will be a lot of people who are unable to
read French...
There are people who are unable to read English. Picture that.
Yes, but not one this list; at least I am confident that anyone having
suscribed to this list can read English. The sole reason why I prefer
English here (note: just *here*, not on Wikisource, Wikiquote, the
commons etc.) is a practical one. It makes communication easier. I can
very well read your French (but hardly respond in the same language,
unfortunately) and - if necessary - German and Spanish as well, but I
would be lost if people began to write in Chinese, Arabic or Swahili,
though these are quite viable international languages in certain parts
of the world. Others however might be willing to use languages like
these. Anything posted here must be accesible to all of us, imo. I
must stress I fully support multilinguality.
As a rule I write to this list in English, but if I want to respond to
someone who has written in French I will do so in that language. I
don't object to people using other languages, as long as they realize
that I may have no clue about what they are saying. If I think that I
adequately misunderstand, I will respond in English. I may even grace a
response to Italian comments with "Va bene" before I switch to
English. In no event will I complain about someone's use of another
language.
Ec