[Wikipedia-l] Re: Press release : Logo putsch on the FrenchWi kipedia !

[Delirium]

Constans, Camille (C.C.) wrote:

>>And this is not even mentionning that the proper way to write 
>>is the one 
>>suggested by the French Academy or the French Typographic 
>>Code. Perhaps 
>>Canada has a chance as well here, but I doubt a decree in 
>>Algeria about 
>>how to use french would be given much consideration :-)
>>    
>>
>
>Difficult question too, i would like to know it works between American People and british people ?
>  
>
The general principle on the en: Wikipedia is to use the form of English 
the initial author of the article used.  The exception is that we try to 
use appropriate language with articles about localities and concepts: 
British English for [[London]] and [[Edinborough]] and [[Queen Elizabeth 
II]], but US English for [[Los Angeles]] and [[President of the United 
States]] and [[Mississippi]].

It's not a hard and fast rule, but we also generally try to limit 
ourselves to fairly standard forms of either British or American English 
(or very similar ones like Canadian English), those two being the two in 
widespread use: we generally avoid words and phrases specific to more 
regional dialects, such as Hiberno-English or the many regional dialects 
in the US, UK, and other countries.

This might all be easier in English than other languages though: most 
Americans accept British English as a valid and correct form of English 
and many have at least some exposure to it, and most non-American 
English-speakers are at least vaguely familiar with American English 
(through Hollywood, if nothing else).  I'm not sure to what extent 
French people are familiar with French-Canadian speech, or vice-versa.

-Mark