in reply to Re^2: Perl to convert US to UK punctuation/spelling?
in thread Perl to convert US to UK punctuation/spelling?

Finding people who know proper British spelling and are willing to work for cheap is easy - India was a British colony and the largest group of people doing O and A levels is there.

Oooh! Dangerous assumptions. The Indians have their own dialect(s) of English. As do the Antipodeans (at least two flavours); the Caribbeans (half a dozen or more); the Irish (North and South). And every other native English-speaking country and group.

Heck. Go anywhere north of the Watford Gap and if a girl talks about "being made-up", it's as likely that she is happy about something, as it is that she is wearing cosmetics. (And there are at least two other interpretations of that two word phrase: "made-up ground" and "bottle of made-up vodka & orange".bnc).

And if you start considering colloquialisms, you're into nearly as many regional variations within the British Isles as there are counties. And that's before you even begin to consider things like youth culture and so-called business-speak.

Once you go beyond 'Received Pronunciation', which not even the Queen speaks any more, there is no such thing a "Standard British English". Neither pronunciation, nor grammar. Even British Academics are having to to show flexibility in what is acceptable these days.


Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
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Re^4: Perl to convert US to UK punctuation/spelling?
by apl (Monsignor) on Jun 16, 2008 at 09:59 UTC
    Excellent point on dialects. The United States has more than you can shake a stick at. Tempers flare over the simple (what does "barbeque" really mean?) to the complicated ('Civil War' vs. 'War of Northern Agression').
        "...and the pompous pendants that persist in ...."

        Puh-leze, sirah! "...pompous pedants who persist in ...."

                    :-)
      Luckily for the Constitutionalists among us, it's starting to be realized that one cannot have a civil war between sovereign entities.

      My criteria for good software:
      1. Does it work?
      2. Can someone else come in, make a change, and be reasonably certain no bugs were introduced?
        This is a conversation that can have no good end, so I nod politely, and back away (slowly) to the door...