This is what we have to put up with in the software localisation industry.

I can’t believe nobody has done this list yet. I mean, there is one about names, one about time and many others on other topics, but not one about languages yet (except one honorable mention that comes close). So, here’s my attempt to list all the misconceptions and prejudices I’ve come across in the course of my long and illustrious career in software localisation and language technology. Enjoy – and send me your own ones!

  • darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    1·
    9 days ago

    Geolocation is an accurate way to predict the user’s language.

    Now that’s a pet peeve of mine, a bizarre belief surprisingly often held by people, who must be oblivious to the existence of tourism.

    • dohpaz42@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      9 days ago

      This. When I was in Mexico on my honeymoon, Google kept redirecting me to their .mx version of Google; despite my inability to read Spanish.

      • Lucy :3@feddit.org
        1·
        9 days ago

        And I always want the english version instead of the german version, despite me being german. Literally only google fucks that up. Every other site, even the small local german Uni website or the canteens meal site, respects my browsers setting. Google does not, and serves me german.

  • onlinepersona@programming.dev
    1·
    9 days ago

    Falsehoods US programmers believe about languages

    The US-centric, anglo-saxon centric worldview strikes again 😮‍💨 For those us that speak multiple languages, many of these are revelations…

    Also, if they are, it’s best to add examples, otherwise these are just random claims without any sources to back them up.

    Anti Commercial-AI license

  • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
    1·
    9 days ago

    Most of these just seem like basic educational issues except this one imo:

    Every language has words for yes and no.

    I want to see more than like 1 or 2 counterexamples. I’m pretty interested in linguistics on an amateur level. Don’t believe I’ve heard of that one before now.

    edit: in retrospect I do think I remember hearing this about Irish and Latin and some older languages. Interesting to know there are so many. I know the theory that language is related to thought patterns is semi-debunked, but I can’t help but think that things like this indicate something about the cultures associated with a language.