>>>>> Paul McQuesten <mcques...@gmail.com> >>>>> on Thu, 31 Aug 2017 18:48:12 -0500 writes:
> Actually, I do agree with you about Microsoft. > But they have so many users that their terminology should not be ignored. > Here are a few more views: > https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_aix_71/com.ibm.aix.performance/natl_lang_supp_locale_speed.htm > https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23824_01/html/E26033/glmbx.html > http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/nlsref/69741/HTML/default/viewer.htm#n1n9bwctsthuqbn1xgipyw5xwujl.htm > https://docs.intersystems.com/latest/csp/docbook/DocBook.UI.Page.cls?KEY=GSA_config_nls > https://sites.ualberta.ca/dept/chemeng/AIX-43/share/man/info/C/a_doc_lib/aixprggd/genprogc/nls.htm > http://scc.ustc.edu.cn/zlsc/tc4600/intel/2017.0.098/compiler_f/common/core/GUID-1AEC889E-98A7-4A7D-91B3-865C476F603D.html > It does appear, however, that what I call 'National Language' is often > referred to as 'Native Language'. And the 'National Language' terminology > is said to not be used consistently: > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_language > I do still feel, however, that claiming 'Natural Language' support in R > sets expectations of new users overly high. > Thank you for spending so much time on such a minor nit. continuing the nits and gnats : I think I now understand what you mean. From the little I understand about English intricacies and with my not fully developed gut feeling of good English (which I rarely speak but sometimes appreciate when reading / listening), I would indeed prefer 'Native Language' to 'Natural Language' Martin Maechler ETH Zurich > Regards > On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 5:45 PM, Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.dun...@gmail.com> > wrote: >> On 31/08/2017 6:37 PM, Paul McQuesten wrote: >> >>> Thanks, Duncan. But if it is not inappropriate, I feel empowered to argue. >>> >>> According to this definition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ >>> Natural_language: >>> In neuropsychology, linguistics and the philosophy of language, a >>> natural language or ordinary language is any language that has evolved >>> naturally in humans ... >>> >>> Thus this banner statement may appear over-claiming to a significant >>> fraction of R users. >>> >>> It seems that LOCALE is called 'National language' support in other >>> software systems. >>> Eg: https://www.microsoft.com/resources/msdn/goglobal/default.mspx >>> >> >> I wouldn't take Microsoft as an authority on this (or much of anything). >> They really are amazingly incompetent, considering how much money they earn. >> >> Duncan Murdoch >> >> >>> And, yes, this is a low priority issue. All of you have better things to >>> do. >>> >>> R is an extremely powerful and comprehensive software system. >>> Thank you all for that. >>> And I would like to clean one gnat from the windshield. >>> >>> I just wax pedantic at times. >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 5:13 PM, Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.dun...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:murdoch.dun...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> On 31/08/2017 5:38 PM, Paul McQuesten wrote: >>> >>> The R signon banner includes this statement: >>> Natural language support but running in an English locale >>> >>> Should that not say 'National' instead of 'Natural'? >>> Meaning that LOCALE support is enabled, not that the interface >>> understands >>> human language? >>> >>> >>> No, "natural language" refers to human languages, but it doesn't >>> imply that R understands them. NLS just means that messages may be >>> presented in (or translated to) other human languages in an >>> appropriate context. >>> >>> For example, you can start R on most platforms from the console using >>> >>> LANGUAGE=de R >>> >>> and instead of the start message you saw, you'll see >>> >>> R ist freie Software und kommt OHNE JEGLICHE GARANTIE. >>> Sie sind eingeladen, es unter bestimmten Bedingungen weiter zu >>> verbreiten. >>> Tippen Sie 'license()' or 'licence()' für Details dazu. >>> >>> and so on. >>> >>> Please ignore this and forgive me if this is an inappropriate >>> post. I am a >>> N00B in R. >>> >>> >>> I don't think it is inappropriate. >>> >>> Duncan Murdoch ______________________________________________ R-devel@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-devel