Re: CHAT: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Jim Grossmann wrote:

> [T]he UDHR people are soliciting translations in
> languages that represent actual nations.
If that were a requirement, they would not have Latin or Esperanto.

> Sending them the UDHR in my
> conlang would not be as bad as sending my paintings of food to a food drive
> for Ethiopia, but it would be less than an act of good faith, unless I
> identified my languages as those which I invented.
To be sure.

> I think it would be
> improper to submit  the UDHR in one of my conlangs, when many vanishing
> natlangs, including those of people who've been deprived of too many rights,
> will probably be underrepresented in the UDHR translations.
You talk as if "the more conlangs, the fewer natlangs", but there is no evidence
at all for such a position.  On the contrary, the true position of UNHCR seems
to be "the more, the merrier".  If one were equally competent to render the UDHR
in Guugu Yimidhirr and Frater, say, it might be better to spend one's time
and effort on the former -- but I think that few of us are in any such position.

> HOWEVER, I can think of one excellent reason to submit a copy of the UDHR in
> one's own conlang;   to assert the rights of the individual, including the
> rights of individuals with eccentric avocations.   Naturally, the person who
> submitted a translation for that reason would need to identify the language
> as his or her own invention.
Hear, hear.

> Anyway, I'll probably send in some kind of proclamation to our government's
> UFO experts instead.   Are those black helecopters I hear?   ;-)
What UFO experts?

--

Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis um dies! || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
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