Actually, I do agree with you about Microsoft. But they have so many users that their terminology should not be ignored.
Here are a few more views: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_aix_71/com.ibm.aix.performance/natl_lang_supp_locale_speed.htm https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23824_01/html/E26033/glmbx.html http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/nlsref/69741/HTML/default/viewer.htm#n1n9bwctsthuqbn1xgipyw5xwujl.htm https://docs.intersystems.com/latest/csp/docbook/DocBook.UI.Page.cls?KEY=GSA_config_nls https://sites.ualberta.ca/dept/chemeng/AIX-43/share/man/info/C/a_doc_lib/aixprggd/genprogc/nls.htm http://scc.ustc.edu.cn/zlsc/tc4600/intel/2017.0.098/compiler_f/common/core/GUID-1AEC889E-98A7-4A7D-91B3-865C476F603D.html It does appear, however, that what I call 'National Language' is often referred to as 'Native Language'. And the 'National Language' terminology is said to not be used consistently: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_language I do still feel, however, that claiming 'Natural Language' support in R sets expectations of new users overly high. Thank you for spending so much time on such a minor nit. Regards On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 5:45 PM, Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.dun...@gmail.com> wrote: > On 31/08/2017 6:37 PM, Paul McQuesten wrote: > >> Thanks, Duncan. But if it is not inappropriate, I feel empowered to argue. >> >> According to this definition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ >> Natural_language: >> In neuropsychology, linguistics and the philosophy of language, a >> natural language or ordinary language is any language that has evolved >> naturally in humans ... >> >> Thus this banner statement may appear over-claiming to a significant >> fraction of R users. >> >> It seems that LOCALE is called 'National language' support in other >> software systems. >> Eg: https://www.microsoft.com/resources/msdn/goglobal/default.mspx >> > > I wouldn't take Microsoft as an authority on this (or much of anything). > They really are amazingly incompetent, considering how much money they earn. > > Duncan Murdoch > > >> And, yes, this is a low priority issue. All of you have better things to >> do. >> >> R is an extremely powerful and comprehensive software system. >> Thank you all for that. >> And I would like to clean one gnat from the windshield. >> >> I just wax pedantic at times. >> >> On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 5:13 PM, Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.dun...@gmail.com >> <mailto:murdoch.dun...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> >> On 31/08/2017 5:38 PM, Paul McQuesten wrote: >> >> The R signon banner includes this statement: >> Natural language support but running in an English locale >> >> Should that not say 'National' instead of 'Natural'? >> Meaning that LOCALE support is enabled, not that the interface >> understands >> human language? >> >> >> No, "natural language" refers to human languages, but it doesn't >> imply that R understands them. NLS just means that messages may be >> presented in (or translated to) other human languages in an >> appropriate context. >> >> For example, you can start R on most platforms from the console using >> >> LANGUAGE=de R >> >> and instead of the start message you saw, you'll see >> >> R ist freie Software und kommt OHNE JEGLICHE GARANTIE. >> Sie sind eingeladen, es unter bestimmten Bedingungen weiter zu >> verbreiten. >> Tippen Sie 'license()' or 'licence()' für Details dazu. >> >> and so on. >> >> Please ignore this and forgive me if this is an inappropriate >> post. I am a >> N00B in R. >> >> >> I don't think it is inappropriate. >> >> Duncan Murdoch >> >> >> > [[alternative HTML version deleted]] ______________________________________________ R-devel@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-devel
