English-Only

[dot]

[...]
Discussing it right here.

Right. But who is the quote aimed at? At the german-speaking audience here? On an english-language forum?
[...]
If the purpose is to communicate, then allowing foreign language without translation fails (and actually appears a bit pretentious). There may be an argument that it is based on personalising a post or a contribution. How important is that?

• How important is that?
  I quite like it to see a signature in another language when I can understand it. Even though I may disagree with the message I feel that it is adding flavor to the post, or more precisely, my perception of the poster.
• But who is the quote aimed at?
  The reader of the post - in fact - all readers of the post, I shall think.

Earlier in this thread it has been proposed to create a thread where translations of the foreign language quotes shall be left. And that the quote in the signature shall link to the post where its translation is given.
I think that it is a good idea. Nevertheless I am aware that it would mean a quite substantial increase in workload for the mods/admins to check by following the links and checking the translation. And I have no 'cure' for this.
But I would hereby propose the following set of rules for allowing foreign language quotes in signatures.

• The translation has to be given in a post in the - yet to be created - translations thread.
• The quote in the signature has to link to that post.
• The meaning of the quote has to comply with all other forum rules (i.e. no flaming, no PDMA, etc.).

If any of the above isn't met the poster will receive an infraction. I'll leave the number of points 'granted' with the infraction open for discussion.

So far for my 2 . What do you people think?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Right. But who is the quote aimed at? At the german-speaking audience here? On an english-language forum?

The purpose of forums is to communicate. For threads, if only a small fraction of the audience can actually understand the posts, then it is a wasted thread. One of the reasons for "english only" (aside from the practicallities of moderating). If we extend this thinking to signatures, what is the purpose of a foreign-language signature?

If the purpose is to communicate, then allowing foreign language without translation fails (and actually appears a bit pretentious). There may be an argument that it is based on personalising a post or a contribution. How important is that?

Discussion and communication is the purpose of the forum and should be a part of each post, but I think that those elements of our profiles that are customizable are often used as an extension of who we are or who we want others to think we are. They are our "branding" elements and may well serve to draw attention to sides of our personalities that we want to project. The use of a non English phrase may be a better expression of what we want to communicate.

I like the idea of a thread where all untranslated foreign phrases get posted with their translations. that way we have a single public source for all to see and comment on. Such a thread would be educational and enrich the lives of all who read it.

Those who didn't grow up watching Alfred Hitchcock movies might learn what "que sera sera" means. Or perhaps the use of "Maui no ka oi" will boost the Hawaiian tourist economy.

I say we give it try.

Rien ne s'est aventuré, rien de gagné
Nichts erlaubte sich nichts Gewonnenes
Nada aventurado, nada ganado

Spoiler :

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Thunderfall]

That's fine. We can allow some foreign language in signatures. Inline translation is recommended but not required.

I will make a sticky thread in Site Feedback where people can post translation of the non-English portion of their signature.

EDIT: The thread is created: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=336494

 

[Godwynn]

That's fine. We can allow some foreign language in signatures. Inline translation is recommended but not required.

I will make a sticky thread in Site Feedback where people can post translation of the non-English portion of their signature.

Thank you so much Thunderfall!

 

[Valkrionn]

Awesome!

 

[LucyDuke]

Excellent, Thunderfall. Thank you!

 

[Opera]

Great! Thanks you

 

[GenMarshall]

Yes, I can remove the translation part out of my signature and replace it with a symbol to link to that very post

 

[dot]

Godwynn, I see an infraction coming. It's borderlining on PDMA.

I was wrong.

Dear mods and admins and Thunderfalls: Thank You!

 

[arcticnightwolf]

yay for Thunderfall, our root-admin !!

 

[Mirc]

Thanks so much! This is great!

 

[El_Machinae]

If y'all could link to your specific post, explaining your signature, that would be even better.

 

[dot]

[...]

Rien ne s'est aventuré, rien de gagné
Nichts erlaubte sich nichts Gewonnenes
Nada aventurado, nada ganado

Spoiler :

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It had struck me as odd at first sight. But I didn't gave it more thought. But now it just hit me when I re-read it - The German saying should be:

"Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt!"

Dear fellow Germans, please correct me if I am wrong there.

 

[Birdjaguar]

It had struck me as odd at first sight. But I didn't gave it more thought. But now it just hit me when I re-read it - The German saying should be:

"Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt!"

I don't speak German at all and must blame Babel fish or whatever translation site I actually used.

 

[SunTzu]

Discussion and communication is the purpose of the forum and should be a part of each post, but I think that those elements of our profiles that are customizable are often used as an extension of who we are or who we want others to think we are. They are our "branding" elements and may well serve to draw attention to sides of our personalities that we want to project. The use of a non English phrase may be a better expression of what we want to communicate.

I like the idea of a thread where all untranslated foreign phrases get posted with their translations. that way we have a single public source for all to see and comment on. Such a thread would be educational and enrich the lives of all who read it.

Those who didn't grow up watching Alfred Hitchcock movies might learn what "que sera sera" means. Or perhaps the use of "Maui no ka oi" will boost the Hawaiian tourist economy.

I say we give it try.

Rien ne s'est aventuré, rien de gagné
Nichts erlaubte sich nichts Gewonnenes
Nada aventurado, nada ganado

Spoiler :

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Chi non rischia, non guadagna.

My Italian is rusty but I think this is the Italian translation. I wonder how many languages this quote can be translated to.

 

[Mirc]

"Cine nu risca, nu castiga", another language for your collection.

Or a lot easier: "Nu risti, nu castigi" (literally slightly different, [you] don't risk, [you] don't win)