Dear Stephen, Adam and All, Thanks for the advice on the different connotations attracted by the word, socialisation, in your nation.
This discussion also raises the interesting point of difference between writers of dictionary and writers of international standards documents. The former (dictionary writers) try to form some sort of consensus about what a word means by consulting people who are attuned to the moral climate of the nation in which the dictionary is to be published. The latter (standards writers) try to set definitions in concrete 'for all people, for all time', and they try to write so that everyone can understand the one and only definition of a word or expression. As an example look at the words 'energy' and 'power' as used in a range of newspaper stories � almost every use implies a different definition with a range of different connotations. On the other hand a physicist, a scientist, or an engineer has to understand clear, distinct, and sole, definitions of 'energy' and 'power' so that they can design things that work. The two groups seem to be living in different worlds. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia -- on 29/1/04 6:03 AM, Adam Retchles at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hello, > > I have a little comment about socialization, communism, and the > metric system... > >>> Metrication of road signs is a major step forward in the > socialisation of >>> metric units - (snip) > >> As a result of the Cold War, the terms socialise and socialism > have such a negative connotation in the >> US psyche, that despite the fact you don't mean >> them in a negative way... > > ...and despite the fact that he was not talking about socialism at > all. Anyway, I agree that most americans aren't familiar with the > term "socialization" and may interpret it as having > something to do with "socialism", which is generally a bad > word here. > > My first reaction to the cowboy quote was that the quote was a piece > of satire, but it very well may have been serious. Assuming that it > is serious, it just shows how ignorant some persons can be about > their own country... > 1) globalization has been largely driven by (American) capitalism 2) > the USA itself is a model of internationalism, where one society was > formed by merging together numerous nationalities. > > Unfortunately, there is that of ignorance and xenophobia out there, > and there's probably very little that a person can do to make their > message palatable to those types of individuals; stupidity can be > very unpredictable. > > have a good one, > Adam
