English will not only do, but do better

I disagree with Alexander Johannesen and Bernhard Eversberg about the 
language
question and just want to point to the fact that in Europe all languages 
are equal and
I enclose an exampel:



+ TOWARDS MULTILINGUAL “SEARCH & RESULT”
One of The European Library’s objectives is to provide information in 
all partners native languages; this means having the portal interface 
translated in all full members’ languages. It also implies a more 
ambitious target that is to extend the multilingual capabilities of the 
portal; in other words, provide a language understanding of queries and 
return the appropriate search results in the same language. EDLproject 
Work Package 2 aims at integrating the outcomes of multilingual access 
research into The European Library portal.
The European Library language policy follows similar guidelines to 
Europa, the portal site of The European Union: “As far as possible, the 
aim is to provide the public with the information they are looking for 
in their own language.” This means that the language interface of the 
HOME and COLLECTIONS pages are translated in all Full Participants’ 
languages. The latest update of the portal interface involves the 
integration of the Russian translation provided by the Russian State 
Library.
On the other hand, EDLProject Work Package 2 (WP2), Extending the 
multilingual capacity of the network, is developing the European Library 
network's localisation and multilingual capabilities by improving access 
for end-users. This is generated through multi-language interfaces and 
advanced search mechanisms in a standardised way. EDLProject WP2 is led 
by the National Library of Slovenia with the input of the Swiss National 
Library. Since EDLproject is coming to an end, we have asked Genevieve 
Clavel, in charge of National and International Cooperation for the 
Swiss National Library, and Maja Žumer, Associate Professor at 
University of Ljubljana and part-time researcher for the National 
Library of Slovenia, to help us understand the complexity behind 
multi-lingual searching.

http://www.theeuropeanlibrary.org/portal/organisation/newsletter/tel_newsletter_janfeb2008.pdf



From: Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen_at_nyob 
<mailto:alexander.johannesen_at_nyob?Subject=Re:%20%20Google%20Booksearch%20Data%20API:%20Another%20blow%20to%20library%20metadata>> 

Date: Mon Sep 29 2008 - 15:39:03 EST
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 14:45, Bernhard Eversberg <ev_at_biblio.tu-bs.de> wrote:
> Definitions ok, but labels? Who needs German labels?

I agree; don't do it. International labels is a Utopian idea that
hinders adoption and extensions. Just accept that there is a Lingua
Franca of the computing world (and it ain't numbers nor German nor
Norwegian, for that matters) and go with it.

> If we cannot stick
> with numeric labels (the only language-independent solution), then we
> should beware of creating different label sets in so many languages.

You've got two options, really;

1. Continue to use numbers, and keep normal folks from understanding
your library world
2. Use English and invite folks in on the bibliographic secret

> For that purpose, English will have to do.

English will not only do, but do better. Is there some world format in
another language with any degree of success I haven't heard of? This
is not to diss the Utopian ideals, but please choose realism. :)


Alex


Jan

-- 

Opinions expressed here are my own and not
that of Göteborgs universitetsbibliotek



Jan Szczepanski
Förste bibliotekarie 
Goteborgs universitetsbibliotek 
Box 222
SE 405 30 Goteborg, SWEDEN 
Tel: +46 31 7861164 Fax: +46 31 163797 
E-mail: Jan.Szczepanski_at_ub.gu.se