English Dominated Software

[lePobz]

Question for people that have english as a secondary language:

If software was created in a foreign far away land, and the language was foreign by default, I think it would drive me crazy seeing a foreign language all over my computer... but after seeing some of your screenshots of your start menus/desktops etc you seem to not really mind.

If it were my machine i'd hate the fact my machine was being dominated by a foreign language - how do you foreign people feel about programs (windows/bios/etc etc) defaulting to english?

 

[Recoil]

I do have a lot programs in english and it doesn't really bother me... english is the world-language and one should be able to use it. I understand when you're annoyed, cause you already know yours and you won't need to learn another to communicate in the world

 

[The Mullinator]

Most native english speakers don't actually have another language and as such won't have any way of actually understanding the feelings of those people who do have english as a second language. Thats why it may seem to us like it would be so annoying when to many however it is not.

English is becomming the dominant language and people just have to accept that as the world gets closer together not all languages are going to survive the ensuing battle. English right now is winning that battle. Most people in the world of course would have preferred it if the language that would dominate would be their own but alas there can only be one winner.

 

[adulus]

English is the world language. Which is retarded. As a language, it sucks total ass.

 

[lePobz]

I'd agree, I prefer french.

 

[Edcrab]

Could be worse man; we could be living with Latin. Thank god for civil wars and European barbarians, thats all I can say...

Despite my mixed heritage I can speak no language other than English; when I went to Spain for a brief spell in a cybercafe (well, not just for the cafe, but you know what I mean) I couldn't understand a word, but as it was all Microsoft standard it wasn't at all difficult to recognise icons. Visuals... the universal language.

 

[The Mullinator]

Visuals... the universal language.

So true so true. I mean there must be hundreds of different words for vagina as a result of so many different languages, but if you show a guy a picture it won't matter what part of the world he is from he will still understand. :naughty:

EDIT: I apologise for that strange sexual outburst, I don't know what got into me.

 

[nicrd]

having french as a primary language, i consider myself very lucky to be able to speak a second language. Actually, I even speak a third (spanish). As for software in english? Lets say i'm very happy when I find a program that gives you the choice of language. Unfortunatly, sometimes the traslation is worse than what google can do. Anyways, my windows is in french as well as office. Usually I dont even notice if a program is in english or french since its almost always been like this. I even remember having the french version of dos. It always didnt change anything, because the commands were in english (thank god they did not translate them).

I think I would find it more frustating if my language was the internationnal one. Its great to be different.

 

[Alec_85]

I'm so used to the English/American language by now, that I don't want any other language around Almost every Swede hates it when software/games/movies etc are dubbed into Swedish 'cause the quality is usually extremely low.

Because of all of this, my mind has practically switched completely to English. I almost always think in the English language & I usually find it easier to find the right words in arguments etc if we talk in English than if we talk in Swedish! I guess I can "blame" this on games & television but I live with it

So to answer your question, yes, any other language than English annoys me slightly (even if anime MUST be in Japanese). I've even stopped watching Swedish television (well almost anyway) because I believe it sounds too horrible (and the acting usually sucks big-time) to endure.

Most of my geeky friends are this way

Edit: Even when I talk to myself (yeah creepy but who doesn't?) I talk in English. Maybe I have watched to many American TV shows :E

 

[ShadowFox]

As we get more connected as a people I'd bet there will be a world language. Of course, some will resist.. but I see it as a almost inevitable byproduct of the technological revolution.

 

[Foxtrot]

English is t3h best language, we have so many slang words most of the people who speak English don't even know wtf half of them mean.

 

[Lethal8472]

I think it makes us americans look lazy...lots of other people from other countries learn different languages and speak them really well (has been proven on these forums) but most of us only speak english. If someone walked up to an average american and started speaking swedish or french, they would either look at you like your an idiot or would scream "TERRORIST!" and run for their lives.

 

[blahblahblah]

I think it makes us americans look lazy...lots of other people from other countries learn different languages and speak them really well (has been proven on these forums) but most of us only speak english. If someone walked up to an average american and started speaking swedish or french, they would either look at you like your an idiot or would scream "TERRORIST!" and run for their lives.

I really think that is one of the biggest flaws in the United States. When you learn another language, you also understand the culture as well. So many stereotypes and racial profiles can be broken if we take the time to learn other languages and cultures. In the US, we don't have to learn about other cultures and we usually are quite ignorant of other countries.

As for computing software, I imagine that there only can be one language. Every language has its specific nuances and limitations, I don't think you can properly translated a piece of software over to another language.

I also think that if I was forced to use software different from my natural language i wouldn't be too happy.

 

[Foxtrot]

I think it makes us americans look lazy...lots of other people from other countries learn different languages and speak them really well (has been proven on these forums) but most of us only speak english. If someone walked up to an average american and started speaking swedish or french, they would either look at you like your an idiot or would scream "TERRORIST!" and run for their lives.

That is because everyone else in learning our language, and they teach it a lot more than we teach any other languages.

 

[Foxtrot]

I really think that is one of the biggest flaws in America. When you learn another language, you also understand the culture as well. So many stereotypes and racial profiles can be broken if we take the time to learn other languages and cultures. In the US, we don't have to learn about other cultures and we usually are quite ignorant of other countries.

As for computing software, I imagine that there only can be one language. Every language has its specific nuances and limitations, I don't think you can properly translated a piece of software over to another language.

I also think that if I was forced to use software different from my natural language i wouldn't be too happy.

How old are you, when was the last time you took a language class? In my school Spanish 1(first year) is just learning the basics of the language and then Spanish 2 is all about verb forms and stuff and Spanish 3 is all about spanish history, culture and even more vocab!

 

[Letters]

I don't think I'd like it... Hell, getting a bunch of foreign-language sites as results on Google and having to click the little 'english results only' is bad enough!

 

[blahblahblah]

How old are you, when was the last time you took a language class? In my school Spanish 1(first year) is just learning the basics of the language and then Spanish 2 is all about verb forms and stuff and Spanish 3 is all about spanish history, culture and even more vocab!

I'm 21 and I took a language class 4 years ago. I took 3 years of high school Spanish. I'm a little bit rusty with my spanish, but if you dropped me off in Mexico City I would be able to speak semi-fluent Spanish within a week.

 

[Lethal8472]

Spanish is the one language americans are going to have to learn...and fast. I remember seeing a chart somewhere that predicted that by the year 2030 or 2040 hispanics will be the dominant race (as far as numbers) in the US...and whites will be #2. Laugh if you want...but if you live in the US and have been seeing the number of mexicans suddenly immigrating into your town...you would believe me. By then most of us will be in our 40s or 50s...and probably wont have to worry about it, but it does give you something to think about.

 

[Lil' Timmy]

well, we are lazy when it comes to learning other languages. but english is a global language, whereas swedish, for example, is not. there is a reason why other people learn many other languages and we do not. europe, for example, contains many languages in a relatively small area. it makes sense for a person living in switzerland, for example, to learn french and german (and maybe italian) just in terms of geogrpahy. americans, on the other hand, have little cause to learn other languages.

one could test the geographic effect in border states in the us. do texans, on average speak more spanish than kansans?

what about the uk? are britains more multilingual than americans?

 

[blahblahblah]

one could test the geographic effect in border states in the us. do texans, on average speak more spanish than kansans?

I live in Arizona (you know the state right next to Mexico, hehe). To an extent it works, but not very well. In high schools, the primary foreign language taught is Spanish. However, I know plenty of people who are completely ignorant of the Spanish language.

I also lived in Hawaii (yes, that island state in the middle of nowhere). Instead of just teaching Spanish, they also teach Japanese. However, the same problem applies to Hawaii as Arizona; not enough people learn a foreign language (or even expose themself to a foreign language).

 

[Lethal8472]

Im not sure about the UK, but if you lived in a city like New York or another similar city where americas "melting pot" of cultures is really obvious...you would probably have to start learing the basics of the languages that surround you just to be able to communicate to other people.

 

[Foxtrot]

I'm 21 and I took a language class 4 years ago. I took 3 years of high school Spanish. I'm a little bit rusty with my spanish, but if you dropped me off in Mexico City I would be able to speak semi-fluent Spanish within a week.

I took 2 years of Spanish, all I can do if say a few phrases and pick out a few words, I did pretty good in the classes too.

 

[blahblahblah]

Year 3 Spanish was when the language started to make sense to me.

 

[Lil' Timmy]

I live in Arizona (you know the state right next to Mexico, hehe). To an extent it works, but not very well. In high schools, the primary foreign language taught is Spanish. However, I know plenty of people who are completely ignorant of the Spanish language.

the question, though, is whether arizonans are, on average, more bi-lingual in english and spanish than residents of non-border states.

in any case, the border effect is probably not so important in america since it's such a young country.

 

[ShadowFox]

Don't take this the wrong way, but Spanish is taking for too much importance in America for my liking.

 

[blahblahblah]

the question, though, is whether arizonans are, on average, more bi-lingual in english and spanish than residents of non-border states.

in any case, the border effect is probably not so important in america since it's such a young country.

I would say yes, but not enough people are bi-lingual to make a difference. Most people who are bi-lingual happen to be Hispanic, not Anglo-Saxan.

I would like to take another Spanish class, but I have no elective credit hours left in my degree.

 

[Raziaar]

I've tried learning another language. I wasn't very good at it. I live in Texas, and i'd love to learn Spanish because alot of my co-workers are from Mexico, but it seems so daunting and impossible to me. The thought of being able to speak two languages and when hearing things, hear things and understand them in two entirely different languages at the same time just boggles my mind.

 

[Lil' Timmy]

I've tried learning another language. I wasn't very good at it. I live in Texas, and i'd love to learn Spanish because alot of my co-workers are from Mexico, but it seems so daunting and impossible to me. The thought of being able to speak two languages and when hearing things, hear things and understand them in two entirely different languages at the same time just boggles my mind.

you should definitely try learning some spanish.. you don't have to become a master at it, i'm sure your co-workers would help you learn it too. it shouldn't boggle your mind too much. think of it this way:

language is just a means by which one person can attempt to create ideas in another person's mind. when i type the word "water", you probably form the idea of water (and all that that entails, like maybe an image of the ocean, concepts of wetness, swimming, thirst, etc.) in your mind. i can speak english and french, and so i form a similar mental action when i read/hear the word water or the word "eau".

once you become comfortable enough with spanish you stop translating words in your mind, and instead just process the words the same way you do english words. when you hear the word "agua" you form the same ideas in your mind as you do when you hear the word "water", instantaneously. this is how you become fluent in another language.

it takes time and repetition, but if your co-workers will make an effort to speak spanish to you, that'll help a lot. spanish is one of the easier languages for an english speaker to learn, btw (imo, only french is easier).

 

[Raziaar]

Funny... because french is what I failed miserably <laughs>

 

[Sulkdodds]

I for one find it really embarassing when I say, go over to mainland Europe and can't speak the language (unless I go to Germany) but then Europeans come over to England and they speak perfect English.

As for people in Britain being more multilingual than people in America...I don't know. i can tell yout hat most people I know here over the age of 18 know a lot of French and many have good German as well. Under the age of 18, everyone I know at least knows a bit of one of those langauges - enough to get by if they went to that country for a week.

 

[Foxtrot]

Don't take this the wrong way, but Spanish is taking for too much importance in America for my liking.

I agree, I think everyone in this country should be able to be fully fluent in English or they shouldn't be here at all. When I went to McDonalds a few weeks ago no on there spoke any English at all so they had to get the manager who spoke a little bit of English to take my order...really ****ed up.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

I'm a slow learner when learning another language. To prove it, I got an overall F in French

 

[nicrd]

For english speaking people, I think spanish would be easier to learn than french. In french they are so many rules and expections to these rules that you get lost easily, especially if your writting. Spanish is bit simpler when talking, but when your writting its really easy because you write things the same way you pronounce them. And if you know one of these languages its not too hard to learn the other because of all the similarities. At least its easier than chinese.

 

[Tinneth]

God England rules.

 

[Lil' Timmy]

For english speaking people, I think spanish would be easier to learn than french.

yeah, it completely depends on the person.. some english speakers find german to be easier than the romance languages b/c of the grammatical rules.. i know a girl who thought russian was easier to learn than the romance languages b/c it uses cyrillic (she didn't have to 'un-learn' pronunciations of a familiar scipt).

i've studied a little spanish, italian, and german. personally, i found french easier than the others.

 

[Edcrab]

I'd like to be able to speak every language on this Earth, but most of all I'd like to be able to speak the "oriental" languages; but man, Chinese, even the most simplified version of the language, is so context and tone and inflection dependant that their term for "mother" and a very strong swear word are worryingly close...

In some ways, its worrying that a combination of English Imperialism and American industry/economy are spreading the language everywhere.

 

[ShadowFox]

I'd like to learn German, because I have German roots, and it is a powerful language.

The oriental languages don't really help me any, so I don't have much of an interest in them. I have no plans on going to East-Asia any time soon.

 

[PvtRyan]

Meh, I read english as easily as I read Dutch. So it doesn't really matter to me.
And grammar is even easier in English than in Dutch.

But for my next study, I have to do a lot in English, which isn't really strange cause it's an IT study, but it shows you can't get anywhere anymore without English. Which sucks for the older generation who don't speak it as well as we TV/Internet whores do.

 

[evil^milk]

For english speaking people, I think spanish would be easier to learn than french. In french they are so many rules and expections to these rules that you get lost easily, especially if your writting. Spanish is bit simpler when talking, but when your writting its really easy because you write things the same way you pronounce them. And if you know one of these languages its not too hard to learn the other because of all the similarities. At least its easier than chinese.

If you know spanish, you should be able to talk french and similar languages. I don't know any other language other than spanish and english but I can speak both pretty well.

 

[Maui]

Could be worse man; we could be living with Latin. Thank god for civil wars and European barbarians, thats all I can say...

Latin is a beautiful language! The constructions of the words give you so much more information than any other language I've ever studied (spanish, french, a little japanese), and when there's a need to sound like you're casting a spell, you can just slap together some words ( nautae ab insulam erant, tibi casum et mortem donat - the sailors were from an island, they give to you death and destruction ) and you'll have fundamentalist Christians attacking you in no time

And as for French...meh. It was a while ago when I took it, and all I remember is "Le chat frappe le voleur avec un marteau". The cat hits the burglar with a hammer. Yeah, that was a fun class :x