Latin Abbreviations

[astrologica]

The Government is intending to ban the use of Latin abbreviations on its websites in order to avoid confusing people who do not speak English. Whatever next!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/23/government-bans-latin-abbreviations-on-its-websites-to-av...

[upthecreekyetagain]

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@fallen-archie wrote:

Truth?  well it may be but why the heck do we need to adopt every idea because we possibly got it wrong first time around. There is and always has been a resistance to change in this country because people like the comfort of knowing where they stand. That has never seriously damaged our capacity to invent new products or develope new architectural styles. There are some things that give us our unique identity little things which we protect or try to. look at them independently and yes they may seem pointless but collectively they are part of our make-up, that's why some of us question the need to remove them. It has naff all to do with religion, race or disability which are used as regularly as the plight of the crested newt at every new housing development. If an initiative IS worthy of support it will get it.

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That's good - this 'initiative' has gained a lot of support 🙂

[Anonymous]

English is not my first language, as most of you on here know.

I do feel it might be useful to make language on government websites clearer for those who might be less educated or for those whose English isn't their first language. I don't see the point in confusing people. Too much of that is already happening.

On the other hand I agree that if you come to live here you should try to learn the language to the best of your ability. Not everyone has a feel for learning a language though and that has to be taken into account.

Latin is at the base of many languages and abbreviations like the ones mentioned have always been part of it, so just learn what they mean. I don't see the problem to be honest.

[jd.linklater]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Latin is at the base of many languages and abbreviations like the ones mentioned have always been part of it, so just learn what they mean. I don't see the problem to be honest.

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Exactly, looks like a simple case of HM government solving a non-existent problem. I wonder if Latin abbreviations will now have to be removed from all our dictionaries. What a waste of time and money.

[cee-dee]

I wonder what "they" would say if asked how many complaints there'd been about Latin abbreviations?

Like may things, I think these ideas are formulated by those with too much time on their hands with the need to justify their existence?

[Anonymous]

Sounds about right CD. And I bet they were well paid to come up with this nonsense