User talk:John Stephenson/Archive 6: Difference between revisions

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==Category:Linguistics Workgroup (Top)==
Some specific languages that you removed [[:Category:Linguistics Workgroup (Top)]] and tagged [[:Category:Linguistics Workgroup]] is included in [http://pilot.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Citizendium_Pilot:High_priority_articles_for_pilot&oldid=100006526#Language High priority articles for pilot]. --[[User:Rilson Versuri|Versuri]] 07:29, 27 December 2006 (CST)
:I changed them because linguistics does not primarily deal with specific languages, rather the system of language itself. Perhaps there should be a separate category for specific languages. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 09:58, 27 December 2006 (CST)
::OK, as I am not an expert, I have nothing to say, but, please, see [http://pilot.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Citizendium_Pilot%3AHigh_priority_articles_for_pilot&diff=100016637&oldid=100012532 this]. Many editions were reverted in [[:CZ:High priority articles for pilot]]. --[[User:Rilson Versuri|Versuri]] 04:31, 28 December 2006 (CST)


==[[Lexis (linguistics)|Lexis]]==
== Welcome back! ==
My article on "Lexis" has been removed during the recent Wikipedia purge; it was, however, mostly my work and can hardly be considered a re-write.  Can I just replace it? --[[User:Douglas MacKevett|Douglas MacKevett]] 11:10, 21 January 2007 (CST)


==Welcome message==
The Universe is always in flux -- some are leaving, some are coming.  Hope that all goes well.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 18:53, 24 August 2011 (UTC)
{{awelcome}} --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 13:03, 19 November 2006 (CST)
:CZ is cooler when you are here. Welcome back!--[[User:Domergue Sumien|Domergue Sumien]] 11:01, 25 August 2011 (UTC)
::Yes, welcome back, and warmly so! --[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 11:21, 25 August 2011 (UTC)
:::Thanks, everyone! [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 06:23, 29 August 2011 (UTC)


==''[[Doctor Who]]''==
== Returning to Citizendium ==
My sister tells me Richard Dawkins current female partner (wife) is a former Dr Who companion. [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 04:37, 12 February 2007 (CST)
:Yep; see [[Talk:Doctor Who]]. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 04:51, 12 February 2007 (CST)


==[[Linguistics]]==
Your message to inactive users is well worded and very encouraging. I think the link to their contributions is a nice touch. Good job! [[User:David Finn|David Finn]] 13:25, 19 November 2011 (UTC)
Good to see you so active on linguistics
:Thanks. Actually, thanks to you they will see a lot of edits in the 'recent changes' list specific to each workgroup.
[[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 04:38, 12 February 2007 (CST)
:Thanks - it's coming along. There are actually about three of us making regular edits, and all the better it is for that too. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 04:51, 12 February 2007 (CST)


==Move lock, vandal protection, history log cleanup==
:I think I've done over 140 people now, about a third of the absent editors (all Natural Sciences workgroups, plus Engineering). So far not much luck coaxing many people back, but I have tried the 'hook' of pointing out that they have public bios here that they might at least like to update. I have personalised the template I've been using to point to the workgroups of which they are members... this takes quite a bit of time and ideally is something a robot should do, but we don't see many robots around here these days. There are certainly people labelled 'inactive' who have been editing in the last few months; this could be fixed by a robot, but I lack the technical skill to run one. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 14:43, 19 November 2011 (UTC)
Constable [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 02:04, 14 February 2007 (CST) will be cleaning up after vandals. This may involve temporary deletion of some files. If this occurs do not panic as they will return cleansed of the traces of balony OMO white. [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 02:04, 14 February 2007 (CST)


==Acrolect==
::That is something I have seen working with the "[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages Special Pages]" - in some cases the lists are not updating on anything like a regular basis. Maybe there is a central problem to do with CZ statistics not updating regularly - sounds like one for the tech team. [[User:David Finn|David Finn]] 14:51, 19 November 2011 (UTC)
I have to admit I use acrolect English myself - in fact I am a stauch opponent of Singlish, not so much out of snobbery as out of fear that it debilitates one's ability to speak proper English. It's a very well-written piece. --[[User:Yim Kai-mun|Yim Kai-mun]] 02:15, 14 February 2007 (CST)
:I've removed the term 'acrolect' as this is used to refer to genuine [[creole language|creole]]s. Actually, on my first visit to [[Singapore]] I was sceptical that this nation was really part of the English-speaking world, but multiple trips on the metro convinced me that this is a first language for most people there. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 02:29, 14 February 2007 (CST)


==Korean Language==
== Helping to understand Japanese phrases ==


John, I'm about to delete the [[Korean language]] article that you imported from WP on Jan. 22.  I can restore it if you want to work on it, or, better, you can upload a more recent version when you're actually prepared to work on it here on CZ. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 16:02, 17 February 2007 (CST)
"このときの歩行速度は時速0.5km にも満たない"


==Big Speedy Delete==
Hello. I tried really hard to find out what the walking speed of the E0 prototype was. I'm afraid that the sentence above states "at the time it was really difficult to reach 0.5km/h" rather than saying "E0 walked at 0.5km/h." Do you know what it means? Thank you. ([[User:Chunbum Park|Chunbum Park]] 03:48, 22 November 2011 (UTC))
There is a cleanup on John. To you have a need for  [[Theoretical linguistics]]. If so please let me know, and make a few edits of it if you have time. It can be bought back from the dead anyway but it would be good to get your guidance [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 14:55, 18 February 2007 (CST)
:My Japanese is really not very good, but I think it means 'At this time, the walking speed was less then 0.5km per hour'. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 13:56, 22 November 2011 (UTC)
:: As I understand it the big delete is only directed and WP content that has not been modified, and does not preclude reimporting others. What Id like to find out is have you the intention to modify Theoret Ling. very soon. If not I will delete it but if you want it (or another Linguistics topic kept Ill skip over them. But mainly to give you the opportunity to take advantage of them . The process should be flexible and thats why I'm contacting you. cheers [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 21:29, 18 February 2007 (CST)
::Yes, the walking speed "did not reach 0.5km/h". --[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 14:34, 22 November 2011 (UTC)
:::: Ive put a comment at the top of all nominated Linguistics articles. This should stall deletion. It would be politic to edit them a bit where they are recently untouched ;o) [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 21:51, 18 February 2007 (CST)
:::Thank you. ([[User:Chunbum Park|Chunbum Park]] 13:10, 7 December 2011 (UTC))
::::: Ive alerted the other constables to the issues raised by deletions. I can assuring you John, that any deletions that may have occurred should be fully reversible and that a discussion to ensure appropriate handing of these pages is very welcome. [[User:David Tribe|David Tribe]] 16:46, 19 February 2007 (CST)


==Categories==
== EC ==
Hi John, I happened to notice your are using various categories to organise the language articles. If you have not seen the forums here: http://forum.citizendium.org/index.php/board,12.0.html you may want to read some of the threads there.  It sounds as if categories are not going to be used in citizendium.  I thought it would be good for you to know sooner than later.  As far as what we'll do instead of categories, that seems to still be up in the air. [[User:Chris day|Chris Day]] [[User talk:Chris day|(Talk)]] 22:58, 20 February 2007 (CST)


==[[Discourse analysis]]==
Hey John, I have nominated you for the EC election. I don't think there is any mechanism for you to know that without research or me telling you so here I am. You have a good overview of CZ past and present and some good ideas about its future so I hope you will consider accepting the nomination. [[User:David Finn|David Finn]] 09:20, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
As it appears this has never been edited since its sourcing from WP, I have placed a Big Speedy Delete tag on the page. Just remove it if you contest. [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] 01:11, 22 February 2007 (CST)
:Thank you and I will certainly take the nomination very seriously. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 05:06, 28 November 2011 (UTC)


== Cherokee Language Articles ==
== Referenda ==


Hi John,
Should the discussion be [[CZ_Talk:Referenda_(Citizen-Initiated)#Voting|here]] or [[CZ_Talk:Referenda_(Citizen-Initiated)/Elections#Electoral system|there]]? [[User:David Finn|David Finn]] 13:52, 6 December 2011 (UTC)
:What about on the Talk pages for the referenda subpages? [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 14:20, 6 December 2011 (UTC)


Where do I post articles written in Cherokee?    I would be happy to start uploading large numbers of articles in the Cherokee Language.
::Suits me! [[User:David Finn|David Finn]] 08:40, 7 December 2011 (UTC)


[[User:Jmerkey|Jmerkey]] 23:45, 1 March 2007 (CST)
== Thank you! ==


:Replied on user's talk. [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] 00:28, 2 March 2007 (CST)
Indeed. I've been in college so things were busy. Time flies and I have a semester left to graduate. Hope I will have more time soon to edit this encyclopedia. [[User:Yi Zhe Wu|Yi Zhe Wu]] 05:01, 4 February 2012 (UTC)


== List of common phrases in various languages ==
== Messed up adding quotes to Welcome Page ==


There actually was a reason that this article could be "speedydeleted," but not because it could never be finished, or relevant.  ''That'' determination (finishability, or relevance) could be made only by an editor, not by a constable, and constables are supposed to be able to "speedydelete" articles.  However, the article was way too short (just a few words), and we ''do'' permit speedydeletes of such short articles if they have been left unimproved on the wiki for more than a few hours. See [[CZ:Article Deletion Policy|Article Deletion Policy]]. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 08:20, 13 March 2007 (CDT)
John, I tried adding quotes #s 50 & 51 to Welcome Page, but somehow messed up, as Welcome Page now shows no quotes.


== Linguistics category ==
Will you rectify, and explain what I did wrong.


Hi, I noticed that you created Category:Linguistics. From the category's description I infer however that it has the same scope as the fundamental Category:Linguistics Workgroup. Please tell me if there is a reason to keep both categories in articles (for now I remove the apparently redundant qualification). --[[User:Aleksander Stos|AlekStos]] 15:35, 19 March 2007 (CDT)
Thanks. [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 19:29, 27 April 2012 (UTC)
:They're just left over from WP articles; I left them in as I imagined that categories and workgroups were different things. You can remove them if you want. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 21:38, 19 March 2007 (CDT)


== Orthography in phonology article ==
:There were some 'nowiki' tags next to the 'mod' value. Fixed now. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 00:19, 28 April 2012 (UTC)


Hi John.  There's a discussion over on the phonology [[Talk:phonology|talk page]] about some language you added to the introduction of the article.  I'd love to have your input on the issue.  [[User:Aaron Jacobs|Aaron Jacobs]] 13:27, 25 March 2007 (CDT)
::Thanks, John.  I saw the tags, but gave them no attention, possibly because quotes had been appearing before I opened the editor to add my quotes.  It's a mystery to me how and when those tags got there.  [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 16:15, 28 April 2012 (UTC)


==Acquisition of German by English speakers==
 
Hi John--I see that you are expert in matters and as a result of all I know, I added a couple of sections to the end of the [[German_language]] article regarding relative ease of learning German for English speakers.  This is based on (I don't know what all in) my past training and experience, but I wonder if you could take a look at it and screen for opinionated quackery, or add references, or whatever kind of feedback it needs.  Thanks in advance if you can get to it.  Incidentally I did become fluent in German after adulthood and got a good accent too, and I always thought a lot of those theories about early childhood "windows of opportunity" being lost for adults was, well, a lot of hooey. That's why I'm asking for a second pair of eyes in this matter; I'm definitely not neutral; rather, I'm a teacher who tries to motivate students and give them hope.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 14:16, 4 April 2007 (CDT)
==Pompeii==
:Hi - I'm not so sure about the idea that German is easier than a lot of other languages, though it depends on what aspect of the language is to be learned. I'm not sure there's even anecdotal evidence to back this up; for example there's a poll [http://www.englishforum.ch/language-corner/4217-french-german-easiest-learn.html here] of learners claiming that French is easier. Originally, specialists argued that 'difference=difficulty', and this idea persists in some circles to this day. And there can be 'positive transfer' where the first language similarity makes it easier to learn the second. However, more recently the prevalent view is that languages that are similar can be harder to learn because they fool learners - they don't recognise what is to be learned. There are some famous examples of German sentences which many learners accept when in fact they're unacceptable, e.g. *''dieses Hotel verbietet Hunde'' ('this hotel forbids dogs') and *''meine Gitarre riss eine Saite'' ('my guitar broke a string'). Maybe in the earliest stages, German is easier, but the differences in semantics in particular makes it difficult. An example of this is Caroll et al. (discussed [http://journals.cambridge.org/production/action/cjoGetFulltext?fulltextid=322780 here]) where there was some limited evidence that English speakers did better than Spanish speakers on picture description tasks using German, because there were more cognates the English speakers could draw on. However, this was only a slight advantage and neither group performed like native speakers. That study also argues that translating German is difficult because although the languages are superficially similar, preserving the writer's attitude is difficult due to different stylistic devices. So overall I would say it's easier in some contexts, particularly early on, but the language doesn't help you to get good quickly. I'm not sure it's worth empahsising this in the article. [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 00:24, 5 April 2007 (CDT)
Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for adding related articles to the Pompeii page. That's one less thing to do! [[User:Richard Nevell|Richard Nevell]] 12:06, 26 September 2012 (UTC)
:No problem. :) [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 11:27, 1 October 2012 (UTC)
 
 
== Picture of George Fox ==
It would be really helpful to know the provenance of the picture of George Fox. I have developed the stub article on him, but am reluctant to add the picture without knowing more about it. It appears to be an imaginative reconstruction rather than derived from an actual portrait. The latest biographer of Fox (Larry Ingle) is reduced to using a "supposed" portrait extracted from a caricature of a Quaker meeting (as evidenced in a book by Rosemary Moore). The picture you have provided could conceivably have been constructed as a younger version of that image. --[[User:Martin Wyatt|Martin Wyatt]] 19:24, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

Latest revision as of 10:41, 9 March 2015



Welcome back!

The Universe is always in flux -- some are leaving, some are coming. Hope that all goes well.... Hayford Peirce 18:53, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

CZ is cooler when you are here. Welcome back!--Domergue Sumien 11:01, 25 August 2011 (UTC)
Yes, welcome back, and warmly so! --Daniel Mietchen 11:21, 25 August 2011 (UTC)
Thanks, everyone! John Stephenson 06:23, 29 August 2011 (UTC)

Returning to Citizendium

Your message to inactive users is well worded and very encouraging. I think the link to their contributions is a nice touch. Good job! David Finn 13:25, 19 November 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. Actually, thanks to you they will see a lot of edits in the 'recent changes' list specific to each workgroup.
I think I've done over 140 people now, about a third of the absent editors (all Natural Sciences workgroups, plus Engineering). So far not much luck coaxing many people back, but I have tried the 'hook' of pointing out that they have public bios here that they might at least like to update. I have personalised the template I've been using to point to the workgroups of which they are members... this takes quite a bit of time and ideally is something a robot should do, but we don't see many robots around here these days. There are certainly people labelled 'inactive' who have been editing in the last few months; this could be fixed by a robot, but I lack the technical skill to run one. John Stephenson 14:43, 19 November 2011 (UTC)
That is something I have seen working with the "Special Pages" - in some cases the lists are not updating on anything like a regular basis. Maybe there is a central problem to do with CZ statistics not updating regularly - sounds like one for the tech team. David Finn 14:51, 19 November 2011 (UTC)

Helping to understand Japanese phrases

"このときの歩行速度は時速0.5km にも満たない"

Hello. I tried really hard to find out what the walking speed of the E0 prototype was. I'm afraid that the sentence above states "at the time it was really difficult to reach 0.5km/h" rather than saying "E0 walked at 0.5km/h." Do you know what it means? Thank you. (Chunbum Park 03:48, 22 November 2011 (UTC))

My Japanese is really not very good, but I think it means 'At this time, the walking speed was less then 0.5km per hour'. John Stephenson 13:56, 22 November 2011 (UTC)
Yes, the walking speed "did not reach 0.5km/h". --Daniel Mietchen 14:34, 22 November 2011 (UTC)
Thank you. (Chunbum Park 13:10, 7 December 2011 (UTC))

EC

Hey John, I have nominated you for the EC election. I don't think there is any mechanism for you to know that without research or me telling you so here I am. You have a good overview of CZ past and present and some good ideas about its future so I hope you will consider accepting the nomination. David Finn 09:20, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

Thank you and I will certainly take the nomination very seriously. John Stephenson 05:06, 28 November 2011 (UTC)

Referenda

Should the discussion be here or there? David Finn 13:52, 6 December 2011 (UTC)

What about on the Talk pages for the referenda subpages? John Stephenson 14:20, 6 December 2011 (UTC)
Suits me! David Finn 08:40, 7 December 2011 (UTC)

Thank you!

Indeed. I've been in college so things were busy. Time flies and I have a semester left to graduate. Hope I will have more time soon to edit this encyclopedia. Yi Zhe Wu 05:01, 4 February 2012 (UTC)

Messed up adding quotes to Welcome Page

John, I tried adding quotes #s 50 & 51 to Welcome Page, but somehow messed up, as Welcome Page now shows no quotes.

Will you rectify, and explain what I did wrong.

Thanks. Anthony.Sebastian 19:29, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

There were some 'nowiki' tags next to the 'mod' value. Fixed now. John Stephenson 00:19, 28 April 2012 (UTC)
Thanks, John. I saw the tags, but gave them no attention, possibly because quotes had been appearing before I opened the editor to add my quotes. It's a mystery to me how and when those tags got there. Anthony.Sebastian 16:15, 28 April 2012 (UTC)


Pompeii

Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for adding related articles to the Pompeii page. That's one less thing to do! Richard Nevell 12:06, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

No problem. :) John Stephenson 11:27, 1 October 2012 (UTC)


Picture of George Fox

It would be really helpful to know the provenance of the picture of George Fox. I have developed the stub article on him, but am reluctant to add the picture without knowing more about it. It appears to be an imaginative reconstruction rather than derived from an actual portrait. The latest biographer of Fox (Larry Ingle) is reduced to using a "supposed" portrait extracted from a caricature of a Quaker meeting (as evidenced in a book by Rosemary Moore). The picture you have provided could conceivably have been constructed as a younger version of that image. --Martin Wyatt 19:24, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

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