On Mar 11, 2014, at 5:12 PM, Thomas Heide Clausen
<ietf(_at_)thomasclausen(_dot_)org> wrote:
Don't we already have two languages used in the IETF, and even for editing
RFCs - English and American: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfcfaq.html#british
Dear Thomas,
If we made better use of technology, we might use restful Asterick.org servers
where each member is assigned their own extension to automatically convert
language into text messaging, voice translations, and even video signing to
fully support those handicapped by remote participation with different native
languages. :^)
I have had a hard time understanding someone speaking with an East London
accent. I might even ask whether they could say it again in German. At least
it then becomes possible to look up a word being missed. It also seems words
tend to merge the nearer to the equator the speaker resides. Even small
distances seem perceptible.
Many of us would have an impossible time handling tonal languages simply
because our ears are unable to hear the differences because our sound
recognition settles in at about 3 months of age. Of course, getting old also
causes loss of higher frequencies which may make some female voices difficult
to hear within a noisy background. It seems technology could benefit everyone.
Regards,
Douglas Otis
Life is a dream, from which we must all awake.