European Tribune - Comments - Open Thread

Open Thread - Thursday | 223 comments (223 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

in French, it's common to leave off the accents if the typewriter or software doesn't allow it, and people can still read it. Not when writing ba hand, however.

How about Spanish or Italian? anyone know?

by zoe on Thu Aug 30th, 2007 at 02:24:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: graphs, Chris... (none / 1)

But in French, changing accents would rarely lead to a word with a different meaning. But, say, vall means 'testifies', váll means 'shoulder', szóló is 'solo' while szőlő is grape, int is '[s/he] winks' while ínt is the accusative case of 'tendon'.

Leaving off German Umlauts is not a good idea either (konnte-könnte).

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Aug 30th, 2007 at 02:40:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: graphs, Chris... (none / 1)

sort of like a change of tone in Chinese then

by zoe on Thu Aug 30th, 2007 at 02:54:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: graphs, Chris... (none / 1)

No. Sort of like the difference between an a and an o.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Aug 30th, 2007 at 03:41:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: graphs, Chris... (none / 1)

Oh, I just thought of the worst example: hat is already an isomorphism, as it can both be 'six' and '[s/he] effects [something]'; while hát is another isomorphism, between 'back' and c. 'well then' -- leave off accents, and it's a four times isomorphism!

I note that in ASCII times, computer-Hungarian was rather cumbersome and looked like this: ko:szo:no:m, szo"lo", ha't.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Aug 30th, 2007 at 05:04:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Open Thread - Thursday | 223 comments (223 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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