> Philip Newton wrote:
>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 20:58, Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>
>> wrote:
>>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 2:35 PM, Paul Kershaw
>>> <ptkershaw@...> wrote:
>>>> Problem the second: Again, recall how this issue started in the
>>>> first place: Someone whose native language wasn't English was
>>>> told, in barely more political words, that his English was
>>>> substandard and that he ought to write in French.
>>> I don't think that was elitism. That was genuine inability to
>>> understand each other, and IIRC, only after that misunderstanding
>>> led
>>> to more than a little hostility on both sides did someone suggest
>>> that
>>> the OP try again in French.
>> Indeed. The feeling I got was also not "Your English sucks" but "I
>> seem to have difficulty understanding your point; since that's
>> possible due not to the way you present your argument but merely due
>> to your level of competence in English, perhaps you could express
>> yourself more clearly in French, to let us understand better what you
>> are trying to express?"
>
> As one who said "Amen" to Sai's suggestion that the OP try again in
> French, may I concur wholeheartedly. Certainly I *never* intended
> to imply "Your English sucks", nor would I ever say or write such a
> thing. I cannot, of course, speak for Sai, but I would be extremely
> surprised if he meant any such thing either.
>
> I understood the suggestion as intending to be *helpful* -
> certainly that is what I intended by supporting it.
>
> I am genuinely sorry that this has been misunderstood.
>
> Personally, I find no problem in a mix of English & French. We've
> had IIRC the occasionally posting in Swedish. I don't recall that
> causing any concern at the time.
>
> I would agree that threads _entirely_ in French are not
> satisfactory, but where the odd bit of posting in French help, I
> see no problem. If one needs clarification, there are sufficient
> bilingual people on the list to help out (if one is wary about
> causing offense, a private email to one of our 'bilinguals' is
> possible).
>
> --
> Ray
> ==================================
>
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
> ==================================
> CENEDL HEB IAITH, CENEDL HEB GALON.
> (A nation without a language is a
> nation without a heart)
> [Welsh proverb]