If one (except English) of the six U.N.'s official languages was chosen for
IETF language, what is your feeling?
For your proposal, I think it would be more disruptive than constructive,
because it will actually exclude the non-native English speakers who speak poor
(or not good) English to participate in IETF activity by requiring this kind of
English level. (Note that I think many non-native English speaker might aslo
feel insulting to get some qualification).
Those people who speak "low quality" English usually feel more frustrated and
much more pressure than the corresponding native English speakers, who like to
mumble and speak fast, so they try very hard to improve their English. While
they are working hard to improve their English, I would suggest the native
English speakers take the "BIG" privilege (since English is IETF language) to
speak simple words and speak clearly as many excellent WG chairs do.
In addition, I think it would be more challenging in ITU-T (many non-native
English participants including Asian people) than IETF if there was an English
issue in IETF, because everything should be done including drafting work during
the ITU-T living meeting. However, IETF work is mainly done through the mailing
list, and most of the non-native English people should be competent for reading
and writing.
Best Regards
Fatai
-----Original Message-----
From: ietf [mailto:ietf-bounces(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org] On Behalf Of
l(_dot_)wood(_at_)surrey(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 5:50 AM
To: arturo(_dot_)servin(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com
Cc: ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
Subject: RE: IETF working language
My proposal was not that there be mandatory assessment, but that the level be
met.
That's broadly in line with the rest of the IETF, which doesn't assess
someone's ability to do Internet engineering, or check credentials or
qualifications to be able to do so, either. (Which may explain the design of
the protocol the reader immediately thought of.)
In both cases, assuming everyone is capable works well - except in those cases
where it clearly doesn't.
Lloyd Wood
http://about.me/lloydwood
________________________________________
From: Arturo Servin [arturo(_dot_)servin(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com]
Sent: 09 March 2014 21:15
To: Wood L Dr (Electronic Eng)
Cc: Scott Brim; <ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org<mailto:ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org>> list
Subject: Re: IETF working language
On Sat, Mar 8, 2014 at 1:53 PM,
<l(_dot_)wood(_at_)surrey(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk<mailto:l(_dot_)wood(_at_)surrey(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk<mailto:l(_dot_)wood(_at_)surrey(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk%3cmailto:l(_dot_)wood(_at_)surrey(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk>>>
wrote:
I'm more concerned with reading and writing.
And I more concerned about the lack of empathy that native English speakers
have regarding non-native.
Also, as a non-native speaker of English that has put a lot of effort to learn
a second language I found very insulting that I would need to be assessed in my
understanding and use of English to participate in the IETF.
Regards,
as