10-11-2003, 11:37 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
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Microsoft and the English language...
RANT BEGINS...
I've just seen some promotional material for the UK launch of the 'Windows Media Center' [sic] and, as someone who has had responsibility for teaching correct spelling and grammar - as well as IT, it has me irritated beyond measure...
I'm curious - over the paste two decades, as MS Windows has become the world-wide de-facto standard for PCs, we have seen Windows in many, many different languages....
So - why is it that, through all this time, one thing has continually defeated the combined genius of the Windows programmers... the ability to have Windows use UK English for those of us who want it?
Why - when the Germans can have 'programme' can not the English have 'Favourites' and 'colours'... and why, for goodness sake, do MS insist on insulting our national language by having a huge launch of a new product, on these shores, without once thinking it might be an idea (in the publicity if nowhere else) to Anglicise it - namely 'Windows Media Center' [sic]?
It is monumentally arrogant that something so simple to program in to Windows should be ignored so completely. If the whole OS UI can be translated into German, Hebrew, Arabic etc. why is it assumed that we who use the 'original' English tongue (and the Canadians of course) should be expected to put up with Americanisms?
...but... more than anything... how did anyone from Redmond think it would be OK to launch a product with a US spelling of 'Centre'?
Give me 'Windows Media Centre' and I will jump for joy, allow me to save bookmarks in my 'Favourites' and change my system 'colours' and I will be happy. Let the people of the US put their 'r' and 'e' in any order they want, let them drop as many 'u's as they like - just give me the chance to have Windows, for once, spelt as we think it should be... :roll:
RANT OVER...
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