As you correctly point out in Hindi the word Aap is used for polite "You" and the word "Tum" is used for addressing someone of a younger age. In Tamil, the word Neenga is the polite "You" and the word "Nee" is for someone of a younger age.
The word "I" seems a bit weak and aloof. Have you experimented with a "We" ? I am not sure how it will sound but it looks more collaborative. I just authored my first PLOP paper and just saw that I have either used "We" or the more informal "The user". "Context: We are teaching a course in which students are expected to learn through their discussions... Problem: We want all students to participate in a discussion. Solution: Therefore, We use a round robin technique to solicit suggestions." Regards Ram Enterprise Architect , Manufacturing Logistics Energy and Utilities - United Kingdom Technology Consulting Group Tel : 9840108852 Vnet : 470839 Cognizant www.cognizant.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joseph Bergin Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 7:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [patterns-discussion] Cultural Dependencies and the YOU form. I've been suggesting to my students for years that they write patterns in the YOU form, as if addressed to the person who must carry out the solution. I've also suggested that the solution be stated strongly in an imperative form. Here is a tiny excerpt, derived from the pedagogical pattern Round Robin. I'll leave out much of it, just to get the flavor: Round Robin Context: You are teaching a course in which students are expected to learn through their discussions... Problem: You want all students to participate in a discussion. Solution: Therefore, use a round robin technique to solicit suggestions. I've always thought of this as a good form. However, I'm teaching the course again and, as usual, learning a few things from my students. I have students from all over the world. Some students from India and Pakistan questioned the use of the YOU form for patterns. They say that it seems impolite to them, since the solutions are imperative. There are language issues of course, with Urdu and Tamil having separate you forms for use with different people. I think these words have different import than the European versions (Usted, vs. tu). The European versions seem mostly to represent "degree of association - strangers vs. family), or the German impersonal forms (man), but it may be different (say, hierarchical) elsewhere. As a result of the discussion, I've been playing with an I form (first person singular rather than second person). For example: Context: I'm teaching a course in which students are expected to learn through their discussions... Problem: I want all students to participate in a discussion. Solution: Therefore, I use a round robin technique to solicit suggestions. The rest of the pattern would need to be changed to match, of course. What do you think about all this? Have you heard this in your travels or pattern writing/usage? The I form doesn't sound as strong to me, but interesting. What advice would you give to pattern writers in this area? Linda Rising suggested I post this here, and Jutta gave good advice that she may want to repeat here. Thanks for your thoughts. Joe PS. I'll be wanting three good shepherds pretty soon, also. Let me know, privately, if you are interested. --- Joseph Bergin, Professor Emeritus in Residence Pace University, Computer Science, One Pace Plaza, NY NY 10038 EMAIL [email protected] HOMEPAGE http://csis.pace.edu/~bergin/ --- you shall above all things be glad and young. For if you're young, whatever life you wear it will become you;and if you are glad whatever's living will yourself become - - e. e. cummings _______________________________________________ patterns-discussion mailing list [email protected] http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/mailman/listinfo/patterns-discussion This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient(s), please reply to the sender and destroy all copies of the original message. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email, and/or any action taken in reliance on the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. _______________________________________________ patterns-discussion mailing list [email protected] http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/mailman/listinfo/patterns-discussion
