h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We'd like to know what you would want to be included in Polyglot Plaza, so please post your suggestions here. Furthermore, we'll need volunteers for the languages we offer. The volunteers need to know the language inside out, so that in case a post is yikesed they can tell whether or not the post is offensive/libellous/breaches copyright etc and advise the moderators accordingly.

I'd like somewhere where I can go and practice my rather rudimentary French, or just somewhere to sit and 'listen' to some native French speakers doing it properly (with a dictionary!).

Perhaps a suggestion?

I will guess that many others have also seen the name and 'PP' here and there, but are not aware of what it is or meant to be.

Perhaps (unless I already missed it) an article on the Front Page, maybe , telling people what the idea is and the general expectations of how it might operate.

I'll have to set it up first before I can advertise.

I will try to be more clear.

If you have a concept that has been tossed about among a few people, and this thread asks for ideas, means and ways ... I think that many people would first ask "what is the concept?" Then they might have suggestions to offer.

Until they have an idea what the aim is, I don't think you will receive much input except from what-ever handful of people are already 'in-the-know'

I think it's worth to collect ideas about a future concept. Various people have various ideas about where they'd like PP to go.

Once we've tossed some ideas, we can develop a concept.

I think that's the point of this thread, Nick, to come up with the aim. At the moment there is no clear concept of exactly what the Polyglot Plaza is, which is why there is no A page written or stuff in The Post.

Of course, Bel or I could write something, put it in an A page and whack it up, but we figured that the more people are asked what they want the more likely it is to be successful.

On the other hand, it might be easier to write something, whack it up and then see what people think! We'll see how this thread goes, I guess.

Another . Sorry, all.

Ah, well then until you know what it is that you wish to accomplish, ... and then seek suggestions ... I will leave this thread.

Good luck.

Oh, and you don't need to be a speaker of a foreign language to bring forward your ideas. I'd love this to be inclusive, so if you do have any ideas I'd love to hear them.

Ah, shame, looks like he's gone.

I have a couple of queries on this. Is this PP going to be a specifically designated area for foreign language speakers or is this a first step to posts, articles or whatever appearing in a foreign language all over hootoo regardles what thread?
I thought the odd phrase or post in a foreign language was allowed so long as an appropriate translation is posted with it. Of course that means relying on the translation being correct, which means for english speaking folk, that has to be taken on trust.
I avoided that thread in ask as sadly the idiots hijacked it again so haven't read all thats been posted there and frankly couldn't be bothered due to the antics of the few so sorry if I'm repeating something here.

Oh yes please, I want a polyglot pizza

Could we have a relaxed area for discussions like in Ask, and a language laboratory to learn the more formal aspects?

Discussions like in Ask: I mean those who would be carried out in Ask (or The Forum, or SEx, etc.) and the only reason not to is wrong language. I see it as a laid-back forum, where you are encouraged to express your opinions even in shaky language. Translation not mandatory, but not prohibited either.

Language Lab: for those who want their sentences to be corrected as much as possible, who have grammar questions (in which case, better not ask a native speaker ), or who want to learn the language from almost scratch. Or who just need a few basics to get around in a foreign country holiday.

These forums do overlap (say, if you have a grammar question, it makes sense to post it in either), but it doesn't matter.

Ah, and maybe a sort of Editorial forum, for announcements, volunteering, and more behind-the-scenes-ish business? Although, no: there is already a regular place for that.


And, of course, Beaujolais Nouveau on the last Thursday in November.

Regarding Entries in foreignese: that could be an idea. Maybe keep them in a separate Guide in the spirit of the EG and the UG: say, the IG. If they get Approved by a foreign language moderator, they get a Spitting-Free Certificate, and since they cannot be modified anymore we know they are trustable and reliable like the rest of the Guide?

And we could do translations, with links at the bottom of Entries to the corresponding translations?

ideas, toybox.

Sound ideas there, keep them coming!

Picking up something toybox said over in the other thread:

Anglophones: you have no idea how frustrating it is to try and explain to your friends what's so special about h2g2, only to get a "mais c'est an Anglais!"* at the end. It just makes it hard to convince the whole world that the place is worth one's time.

And you (well, I) often feel a bit arrogant when you share an overwhelming Entry with my friends and it is written in English. Seriously, sometimes it feels as if someone says, "hey, I have just heard a fantastic pun in Latin, wanna hear it?"

* "But it's in English!"


I agree. I can never share anything with my German friends - because it is in English. Which is a shame, as there's so much brilliant stuff in here.

I just realised it today, too. Nine years it took me

(Oh. I missed my hootiversary.)

You can still celebrate, it was only four days ago.

I think it's a great idea and those that participate in the right spirit will get a lot out of it.