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Re: Colloquial language [Re: Last Call: <draft-hoffman-tao4677bis-15.txt> (The Tao of IETF: A Novice's Guide to the Internet Engineering Task Force) to Informational RFC]

Dave Crocker <dhc@dcrocker.net> Thu, 31 May 2012 06:59 UTC

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Date: Thu, 31 May 2012 08:59:04 +0200
From: Dave Crocker <dhc@dcrocker.net>
Organization: Brandenburg InternetWorking
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To: Brian E Carpenter <brian.e.carpenter@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Colloquial language [Re: Last Call: <draft-hoffman-tao4677bis-15.txt> (The Tao of IETF: A Novice's Guide to the Internet Engineering Task Force) to Informational RFC]
References: <20120530225655.19475.74871.idtracker@ietfa.amsl.com> <4FC6CE2F.70903@stpeter.im> <4FC71178.2050401@gmail.com>
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On 5/31/2012 8:36 AM, Brian E Carpenter wrote:
> Have we any evidence that this is a problem for the community? The informal
> style is one of the virtues of the Tao. I'd be sorry to lose it.


Let's separate use of colloquial language from overall writing style. 
It is possible to write in an informal style without using 
colloquialisms.  I could, for example, insert some side comment here 
that would be informal and lack colloquialisms.  By some measures, the 
preceding sentence is an example of exactly that...

Colloquialisms are well known to impede understanding by non-native 
English speakers.

So, do you have any evidence that this is /not/ a problem for that part 
of our community?

d/

-- 
  Dave Crocker
  Brandenburg InternetWorking
  bbiw.net

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