The language thing
Biomedbiblog is a collaborative weblog for members of the Dutch Medical Association. There are 5 active loggers now, and we hope for more: you can read the author's name on the bottom of each log. So, although i am the most active till now, it's not mine 
.
David wrote about international blogging and the language gap: what's know in de dutch blogging society as 'Language thing (Wow!ter in april)' (and in august). Oliver Obst also asked the German community: Metinfo in English or Deutsch?
As is said: we can understand each other quit well during a conference, but writing in English is another matter. I myself am a lousy typist at best 
and can at best produce some kind of Denglish (' steenkolenengels') and that might be embarrassing to write and/or irritating to read 
.
On the other hand: blogland is a community and it is a good feeling to belong to that community. Besides that: it is really flattering to learn that he goes to that trouble to understand what we say!
My focus for Biomedbiblog is internet tips and news that might be interesting for the Dutch biomedical librarians, and ,although we are a collaborative weblog, i try to add some personal comments to make it less mechanical. I can try to stick in one language as a start.
Dear reader: what do you think about this language thing?
Reacties
Bilingual blogging suits me fine for the moment. I am studying on implementing different feeds for that matter too. However Blogger is a bit stubborn in this respect.
With regards to proper grammer, and dunglish vs. English, I do make far too many mistakes in both languages.
WoW!ter 01-12-2006 @ 08:44
Hello!
I absolutely agree that it is a good idea to blog in one's strongest language, but adding the translation buttons costs one nothing, and does make one's blog more accessible to a broader audience. I follow this blog because I really want to know what Dutch medical librarians are interested in. :)
David Rothman 01-12-2006 @ 12:46
Vanwege de reletieve nieuwheid van bloggen in het algemeen en het BMI blog in het bijzonder denk ik dat het verstandig is om het blog (voorlopig) in het Nederlands te laten om daarmee zo laagdrempelig mogelijk te zijn.
Hoeveel Nederlandse collega's lezen regelmatig Engelse vakliteratuur?
Ronald 01-12-2006 @ 20:12
I have tried to install the Babyl Fish translator box, but the Dutch-English translation does not work at this moment.
Altavisto offers at the moment only translations form enlish to other foreign languages. I will try again in time.
Dymphie 01-12-2006 @ 21:17
Nogal wiedes dat je in je eigen taal blogt. :-)
Ik heb echt geen zin blogs af te gaan die allemaal hetzelfde melden in het Engels. Diversiteit van taal en cultuur lijkt me de rijkdom van de mens. Ik lees blogs in het Engels, Nederlands, Duits en Frans. Waarom moeten wij allemaal eenzijdig overstappen naar het Engels? Omdat Engelstaligen een beetje onkundig zijn in taal en gemakshalve altijd in het Engels willen communiceren? In Vlaanderen erger ik mij aan flaminganten en nationalisten. Bij Nederlanders erger ik me dan weer aan het feit dat ze zo vlug naar het Engels - en de Angelsaksische cultuur! - grijpen (of nog veel erger: naar Franse woorden die men dikwijls niet goed uitspreekt) in plaats van de eigen moedertaal. Goed, Nederland heeft misschien een sterke traditie van het 'zich richten naar het buitenland' (die mercantiele geest, weet je wel) maar je mag niet overdrijven.
Oeioeioei, hier moest ik blijkbaar mijn ei kwijt. ;-)
Ach, en op Medinfo heb ik hetzelfde gezegd: blog in je eigen taal!
Alleen al daardoor ben je één van de belangrijkste blogs in je eigen taalgebied. Tweetalige blogs vond ik verigens ook maar niks.
Keep it simple!
jensjeppe 01-12-2006 @ 22:31
Touche :-)
Dymphie 02-12-2006 @ 09:10
I agree with Jensjeppe that reflexively switching to English is silly. One should blog in the language which best suits one.
However, I feel compelled to point out that if there even still is such a thing as anglo-saxon culture (Angelsaksische cultuur), such a term cannot be used to describe the culture of the United States, nor of Canada. Perhaps Jansjeppe meant "anglophonic" culture (culture surrounding the use of the English language).
I wish I had Jensjeppe's talents for languages. :)
David Rothman 02-12-2006 @ 13:53
Hello!
I absolutely agree that it is a good idea to blog in one's strongest language, but adding the translation buttons costs one nothing, and does make one's blog more accessible to a broader audience. I follow this blog because I really want to know what Dutch medical librarians are interested in. :)
David Rothman 03-12-2006 @ 12:55
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