[bearmum]

I am wondering if SOMEWHERE it would be possible to ask players to indicate if they can at least answer basic bridge questions in English? ------- I joined a table today which required permission --- and to my discomfort found that NONE of the players spoke English (and why should they?) ---------- BUT the point is --- MAYBE we should ALL indicate what languages we are comfortable with??

BTW - MY prospective partner's profile was filled out in English so I assumed he could speak a LITTLE of the language, even though his flag was Turkish

[the hog]

I am wondering if SOMEWHERE it would be possible to ask players to indicate if they can at least answer basic bridge questions in English?

Why English? Why not Russian or Urdu? Or why not the wor'ds most commonly spoken language, Mandarin? What a parochial attitude.

[Free]

English is the most spoken language in the world, so why not?? Perhaps just a possibility to show which languages you can speak, and not English alone. Like "English, French, Dutch, German" or something...

[mrdct]

I must say that I've never found it uncomfortable to play with and against non-English speakers; both online and at the table. Pretty much everyone understands "?", 12-14, majors, minors, ♣, ♦♦ ,♥ ♥, ♠, etc.

One of my favourite online partners is an Italian who speaks very little English and I speak absolutely no Italian. We play a simple natural style and have a lot of fun.

Also, I'm not sure where you get your stats from but English would have barely a third of the number of Mandarin speakers, and is probably behind Hindi and Spanish too.

[hrothgar]

Just in case anyone is interested the following link provides some useful informaton:

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/...tive%20speakers

For whats its worth, I think that its necessary to distinquish between Natve Speakers and speakers. There are roughly 2.5 as many native Mandarin speakers as native English speakers.

Spanish just barely edges out English for the #2 slot, however, if we combine Spanish and Portugese (most of my Portugese speaking friends can make themselves understood in Spanish and vice versa.

With this said and done, English is now the Linga Franca and the influence of the Bitish in the Indian Sub Contient is particularly striking. I'd guess that more people speak English than any other language.

[bearmum]

The_Hog, on Apr 27 2004, 11:35 AM, said:

I am wondering if SOMEWHERE it would be possible to ask players to indicate if they can at least answer basic bridge questions in English?

Why English? Why not Russian or Urdu? Or why not the wor'ds most commonly spoken language, Mandarin? What a parochial attitude.

I was asking because BBO is based in the USA which NOW is basically ENGLISH speaking ( but maybe not for long as I believe that SPanish is rapidly becoming the native language for a LOT of USA residents) SO I was NOT being silly nasty or anything else, BUT would NOT go to a site where the language was ANYTHING but English as I wouldn't understand ANY of it - and probably nor would you Hog

[bearmum]

mrdct, on Apr 27 2004, 12:01 PM, said:

I must say that I've never found it uncomfortable to play with and against non-English speakers; both online and at the table.  Pretty much everyone understands "?", 12-14, majors, minors, ♣, ♦♦ ,♥ ♥, ♠, etc.

One of my favourite online partners is an Italian who speaks very little English and I speak absolutely no Italian.  We play a simple natural style and have a lot of fun.

Also, I'm not sure where you get your stats from but English would have barely a third of the number of Mandarin speakers, and is probably behind Hindi and Spanish too.

Unfortunately at the table to which I was refering NONE of my attempts to find out what P played (or asking for alerts from opps either) had ANY success. I too have played with MANY folk from other countries where there is little common language BUT at least "RKCB?" ( or something similar) got a response which was recognisable

ONce again I reiterate that BECAUSE BBO is a site in USA it is surely not unreasonable to ASK if players can communicate in English?? If it were domiciled in for example France I would expect that to be able to communicate with the majority of folks there French would be a REALLY good language to speak

[the hog]

"I wouldn't understand ANY of it - and probably nor would you Hog "

Actually I do, or 3 languages fluently anyway, and I make it a point to learn the absolute basics of a number of others, particularly if I play against people of those nationalities or am a guest in their country as a tourist.

[uday]

The physical BBO, such as it is,  may be a site in the US, but the vast majority of our members come from another country.   

Here are some stats, based on IP address of connecting PC 

16% USA
12% Italy
8%   France
8%   Poland
6%   Canada
6%   [ unknown ] 
6%   Turkey

This is all very approximate and over a single day.

[bearmum]

WOW looks like EVERYONE replying to my original post thinks that I am
A a racist
B completely out of line thinking that a USA based site MIGHT be ENGLISH based



DOES ANYONE READ the question before making assumptions of what I meant??

in my ORIGINAL post i said (part of post) "I joined a table today which required permission --- and to my discomfort found that NONE of the players spoke English ((and why should they?) ( colour and size exagarated for emphasis !!) MY profile indicates that I ONLY speak English , but I was invited to join----------- BUT NOBODY else at the table replied to ANYTHING I said in English - AND NOW according to EVERYONE who replied it's MY fault for wondering if it MIGHT be good if languages spoken be entered on PROFILE!!!!!!

I NEVER NEVER suggested that NON English folks should not play on BBO - NOR did I indicate that I was NOT willing to play with OR against non English speakers

[bearmum]

The_Hog, on Apr 28 2004, 11:27 AM, said:

"I wouldn't understand ANY of it - and probably nor would you Hog "

Actually I do, or 3 languages fluently anyway, and I make it a point to learn the absolute basics of a number of others, particularly if I play against people of those nationalities or am a guest in their country as a tourist.

Well LUCKY you HOG to be fluent in SO many languages

[inquiry]

The_Hog, on Apr 27 2004, 05:27 PM, said:

"I wouldn't understand ANY of it - and probably nor would you Hog "

Actually I do, or 3 languages fluently anyway, and I make it a point to learn the absolute basics of a number of others, particularly if I play against people of those nationalities or am a guest in their country as a tourist.

I'm still struggling trying to learn english.

Ben

[csdenmark]

You have something for your assumption Bearmum. In rules for these sites english is stated as a default language which all ought to be able handle - not perfectly - but in a basic way at least.

As I remember right now english is expressed as an official BBO language.

I really dont understand your problem. Like Ron I also try to be able to understand basic of bridgeterms people from faraway countries uses. It is fun - you simply start by guessing and ask your friends whether you will be right. Soon you will be better guessing. A nice climate on table normally will be a sure and positive result and you will be wiser.

Not all kind of communication you need to understand.

How about these:

All 26 cards for your disposal - No surprises I hope - Best wishes! - Hao yun qi!
All for you - As expected I hope - Best wishes for you! – Buona fortuna!
S'il vous plait! Værsgo! Here you are! Bitte sehr! - Good luck partner!
All my values for your disposal - No surprises I hope - Good luck partner – veel plezir! – Buena suerte!
Uspeh! – Viel Glück! - Bonne chance! – Bol sans! - Good luck partner!
Thank You Partner! - Mange tak! – Xie xie ni – dekha jak!
Thank You Partner! - Merci bien – Blagodaria – Dankje!
Thank You Partner! - Danke schön - teşekkür ederim - Dziekuja!
Thank You Partner! – Muchas gracias! – Molti ringraziamenti - Köszönöm!