On 1/29/2011 7:17 AM, Zaphod Feeblejocks wrote:
When (for example), an interface tells me about spreadsheet 'formulas'
and not 'formulae', I think the people responsible have forgotten the user.
Off topic, a diatribe, in agreement with the position of
Zaphod and others.
The so called "Americanisms" mentioned here are not
Americanisms. They are BARBARISMS, committed by poorly
educated USians who do not care about the language.
I have an ongoing, albeit losing, war with "indexes"
(indices) "maximums" (maxima) "minimums" (minima) along with
the words you mention.
Another annoyance: I note that /America/ is more than just
the US. Too many people, here and abroad, use /America/ as a
synonym for the UNITED STATES of America. There needs to be
a word other than American for a citizen of the United
States (of America).
Little made me more angry when a student at the University
of Glasgow than the telephone response when I called the
Consulate in Glasgow: "American Consulate." It was not and
is not the "AMERICAN Consulate".
America includes Canada. America also includes Mexico, the
Central American Isthmus nations, and the South American
nations. There, English, where it is spoken, is a second
language.
But I digress.
I agree with you entirely. There is a need for less US
English centered language references in OO.o.
David Teague
a US Citizen, who is annoyed by
lazy and poorly educated US usage.
