Re: [atlarge-discuss] méthodes de travail normales

["Ron Sherwood" <sherwood@islands.vi>]

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sotiris Sotiropoulos 
  To: Ron Sherwood 
  Cc: IAL 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 6:39 PM
  Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] méthodes de travail normales

  [Snip]

  An "attack" is by definition something intended as harmful.  I intended Mauro (an as yet unverified individual) no harm.  I was pointing out a problem in our communication(s).  A problem which was compounded even further by what I considered a misapprehension on Mauro's part.  You are free to interpret my words as you please, but they were certainly not intended with malice. 

  I accept your explanation

  [Snip]

  My function is not that of language cop, I can assure you.  As for my apparent ill-humour of late, I believe I am not the only one who is peeved at the way things are being handled. Perhaps the most vocal, but certainly not alone.

  I agree

    Please lighten up Sotiris and make this organization inclusive, rather than 
    the exclusive Anglophonic club you clearly want to establish. 


  I have no such intention.  I thank you for attempting to divine some such improbability as my motivation for insisting on English proficiency, but I can assure you that it is wholly without basis. Nothing would please me more than to have all our members discussing simultaneously with one another in their own native tongues; whether that be Greek, Hebrew, French, English, Spanish, Arabic, or Hindi. However, this is not Star Trek and we have no Universal Translator which will magically interpret for us.  Furthermore, as we've had a hard enough time trying to organize in English over the last 5 years, what makes you think it will make things any easier if we start confusing issues by making language another?  

  Your words gave the impression (in fact made it very clear) that you want only fluent Anglophones on the Panel.
  I did not say it would be easier if we welcome people who are not fluent in English... I said it would be better.  It would not matter to me what language the meetings were conducted in, if someone were able to provide a usable translation for me.  All of the participants on this list so far have done that.

  Oh, and "Ron", my name is "Sotiris Sotiropoulos" which is, admittedly, a Greek name in origin.  My parents do speak Greek as their "native" tongue.  If you know any Greeks, you'll also know that they are very proud of "being Greek" and work hard at maintaining their cultural roots. Yes, they often speak the Greek language too.  But, many of us who were born, raised, and educated in places like Canada, the USA, UK, and Australia, are as much "native" English speakers as yourself, so I thank you not to patronize me by putting "quotes" around the word "native" when referring to my beloved English, as you do above. 

  I was not "patronizing" you, but simply using the word that you used to describe your use of English when
  you wrote:
  Actually, my native tongue is English!  But... ich spreche ein bischen 
  Deutsche auch!  Greek is not my native tongue, but I speak and write it 
  btter than Mauro speaks and writes English, let me assure you.

  It seems, Sotiris, that our only difference is that I want to welcome willing new blood from a wider membership base, and I am prepared to live with the language difficulties.  You, on the other hand appear to place your need for fluency in English above the will to work as a team and actually achieve something this time around.  I doubt that we will agree on this one.

  Best regards, Ron