David Gerard wrote:

Mark Williamson (node.ue@gmail.com) [050211 11:41]:

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On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:29:04 +1100, David Gerard fun@thingy.apana.org.au wrote:

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I think we can all agree that Quenya should be created before we even consider Cantonese. ... no?

I'm pretty sure you're being sarcastic, and if you are, it's funny. But I just want to make sure... are you?

I cite the above as evidence of Commonwealth English being mutually unintelligible with American English. For further proof, I will show transcripts of British English users arguing politics with American libertarians on #wikipedia. No way either can understand anything the other is saying.

So, should we read that as a request to start a new Wikipedia in one of those languages? (Note that I am not commenting on which of those would get to keep the current en: site, but obviously the Nynorsk/Bokmål debate will seem positively mild compared to the flamewar to come.)

Anyway, as a preemptive strike I wish to object to this request. My reason is that even though I use American English, I found the remark perfectly intelligible. I firmly oppose any balkanisation of the English Wikipedia.

--Michael Snow