An Official Language For A Nation? [draft discussion]

[Xusnium]

I'm wondering if this has ever been done before, and if Max Barry has ever taken it up or has been suggested.

I'm a bit of a noob to "issue-creating". So, anyone wanna help me on this?

Official Language for [nation]?

The National Department of [nation] has proposed that an official language for your nation.

"I feel that we should declare our lingual independence and assign an official language," says the president of the national department, "It will make our nation more primitive and it won't harm anyone."

outcome: The official language of [nation] has been named [???]
------------------
"That's good, but I think we should go a bit further." says his wife, who is known for being a bit patriotic. "We should ban all other languages and force immigrants to learn it! A compulsory language system will raise us to the stars, as well as a couple other things.. Like maybe building a wall!"

outcome: Immigrants are forced to learn a new language they can't quite understand, while being spat on by natives of the nation.
-----------------
"Neither or!" says a voice from the crowd, as he elbows his way through. "I think we should all just freely speak our own languages no matter what!"

outcome: There have been reports of people speaking Pig-Latin in elections.
-----------------

Conclusion: This issue isn't a good idea. I've decided that this isn't really worth the fuss on coding a new string for a nation.

[Tinhampton]

We deal with issues in Got Issues?. And when you get there, please remember to put the text of the draft in the OP itself. From how I see it, this needs a lot of improvement (padding out, etc.).

[Frisbeeteria]

We deal with issues in Got Issues?.

Moved.

[Xusnium]

We deal with issues in Got Issues?.

Moved.

thank you very much!

any suggestions???

[Xusnium]

We deal with issues in Got Issues?. And when you get there, please remember to put the text of the draft in the OP itself. From how I see it, this needs a lot of improvement (padding out, etc.).

what is OP??? please explain. I'm really an internet noob as well as a NS noob when it comes to stuff like this.

[Dytarma]

We deal with issues in Got Issues?. And when you get there, please remember to put the text of the draft in the OP itself. From how I see it, this needs a lot of improvement (padding out, etc.).

what is OP??? please explain. I'm really an internet noob as well as a NS noob when it comes to stuff like this.

(correct me if I'm wrong regulars) I think it's Opening Post.

[Xusnium]

what is OP??? please explain. I'm really an internet noob as well as a NS noob when it comes to stuff like this.

(correct me if I'm wrong regulars) I think it's Opening Post.

I don't know how to do Opening Post.

I have LOTS to learn!

[Juvencus]

(correct me if I'm wrong regulars) I think it's Opening Post.

I don't know how to do Opening Post.

I have LOTS to learn!

I'm definetely getting a report for this, but you started this thread which means you've made the opening post.

As for an official language, it's most likely not to happen as then the editors would have to go a bit deeper every time.

[Xusnium]

I don't know how to do Opening Post.

I have LOTS to learn!

I'm definetely getting a report for this, but you started this thread which means you've made the opening post.

As for an official language, it's most likely not to happen as then the editors would have to go a bit deeper every time.

ah ok.

sorrryyyyyyyyyyyy

[Crylante]

What would happen for bilingual nations, like mine? What option would I pick?

[Xusnium]

What would happen for bilingual nations, like mine? What option would I pick?

The third one, I gueessss

either that or you ignore the issue

[Xusnium]

hmmmmmmmm um. this probably will never be passed.

it may not need tooooo

[Xusnium]

*anxiety intensifies*

[Trotterdam]

Please read #071.

[Australian rePublic]

Hello, and welcome to Got Issues. It's always nice to see a new writer
Before we get started, I noticed that you made three consecutive posts in a matter of three minutes. Calm down mate, just calm down! You're not a bad writer, and if this one doesn't make the cut, you can always write a new one In fact, I would encourage you to write a second issue either way, and a third issue, etc. We can never have too many good ideas for an issue! The only limit to your number of issues should be your creativity. Look at me, when I first started writing issues, I actually got a telegram saying how terrible my issues were and if I keep sending in terrible issues, I will continually get rejected, and now I have 4 published issues under my belt, and many more in waiting. Most authors here don't get it right on the first go, but that doesn't stop them from trying again. If this issue doesn't make the cut, you can always try again, and create another

Firstly, how long has @@NAME@@ existed, why is selecting a national language of a sudden a problem now? Wouldn't it have been solved either thousands of years ago, or (if @@NAME@@ is not that old), at the nation's creation?

The third one, I gueessss


either that or you ignore the issue

That's not a good idea. There WILL be bilingual nations, lots of them.


Anywy, let's get to the heart of the issue:
1. Option 1, Why exactly would assigning a national language make a nation primative? EVERY nation is the world either has one, or has a different one for different regions
2. Ha? Why is it a bad thing to expect migrants to learn your nation's language. Besides, if you're educated, it's your RESPONSIBILITY to learn the language of the nation you're moving to. If you're educated there really is no excuse as to why you shouldn't atleast try to learn the language in fact, almost every real nation requires you to. Also, if it's a language such as English or Spanish, there's a possibility that migrants ALREADY speak that language, and if that's the case, then that's not the language of the natives. The natives would have their own indigenous language/s. You could also have a situation such as New Zealand, where Maori and English are both official languages. And English is definately not the native languageof New Zealand. There are also situations such as Australia, where there are so many indigenous languages that English is atleast a standard, nation-wide national language, and if you strictly wanted a native language, you could potentially end up with a situation such as India, or Canada, where different regions speak different languages (with Canada, I am of coarse refering to Quebec as oppose to the English speaking provinces), same with Belgium, and Switzerland, etc. and you may or may not be able to communicate with different people of different regions, depending on how many lamguages you learn in school (assuming you even go to school, but that's a different matter). In the movie "Lion" for example, without giving away too many spoilers, when Saroo arrives at Kolkata, he has a language barrier with most of the people there, even though he is in the same nation. On the other hand, you could have a country such as Greece, where EVERYONE speaks Greek, or France, where EVERYONE speaks French
3. Option 3, your problems are gonna be worse than "court cases are in pig latin" local governments aren't going to know which language to write street signs in, going to a hospital would be a nightmare, where patients and staff won't know which language to communicate to each other in, assuming that they speak the same language in the first place. Out of thirty patients, there might be thirty different languages, shops would have the same problems, there would probably need to be more TV and radio channels than the population can sustain, train station announcements would be a nightmare. There's a reason why nations choose standard/languages

[Australian rePublic]

If you want, you can make this issue about different regions speaking different languages and that causes probems for people travelling across the nation to different regions, and (I'm gonna use Canada here, because it's the one I'm most familiar with) there is a language barrier. So for example, if someone were to travel from Ontario, where they speak English, to Quebec, where they speak French, there might be a language barrier, despite both provinces being in the same nation. In which case, you would have the options of

1. We Need a singe national language, a neutral one that will please everyone, so that everyone can communicate with eachother in whichever region
2. Just use the language of @@CAPITAL@@, tht way everyone speaks that language, and we don't have to try to learn a brand new one from scratch (hmm, I wonder if this is the case with the United Kingdom, if everyone speaks English, despite other languages, like Gelic, hmmm. CWA is British, maybe he can verify if he chooses to post here)
3. Just teach everyone every language of every region. What could possibly go wrong?

[Devernia]

(correct me if I'm wrong regulars) I think it's Opening Post.

I don't know how to do Opening Post.

I have LOTS to learn!

It also means Original Post, or Original Poster (as in the person who made the thread).

[Xusnium]

Hello, and welcome to Got Issues. It's always nice to see a new writer
Before we get started, I noticed that you made three consecutive posts in a matter of three minutes. Calm down mate, just calm down! You're not a bad writer, and if this one doesn't make the cut, you can always write a new one In fact, I would encourage you to write a second issue either way, and a third issue, etc. We can never have too many good ideas for an issue! The only limit to your number of issues should be your creativity. Look at me, when I first started writing issues, I actually got a telegram saying how terrible my issues were and if I keep sending in terrible issues, I will continually get rejected, and now I have 4 published issues under my belt, and many more in waiting. Most authors here don't get it right on the first go, but that doesn't stop them from trying again. If this issue doesn't make the cut, you can always try again, and create another

Firstly, how long has @@NAME@@ existed, why is selecting a national language of a sudden a problem now? Wouldn't it have been solved either thousands of years ago, or (if @@NAME@@ is not that old), at the nation's creation?

The third one, I gueessss


either that or you ignore the issue

That's not a good idea. There WILL be bilingual nations, lots of them.


Anywy, let's get to the heart of the issue:
1. Option 1, Why exactly would assigning a national language make a nation primative? EVERY nation is the world either has one, or has a different one for different regions
2. Ha? Why is it a bad thing to expect migrants to learn your nation's language. Besides, if you're educated, it's your RESPONSIBILITY to learn the language of the nation you're moving to. If you're educated there really is no excuse as to why you shouldn't atleast try to learn the language in fact, almost every real nation requires you to. Also, if it's a language such as English or Spanish, there's a possibility that migrants ALREADY speak that language, and if that's the case, then that's not the language of the natives. The natives would have their own indigenous language/s. You could also have a situation such as New Zealand, where Maori and English are both official languages. And English is definately not the native languageof New Zealand. There are also situations such as Australia, where there are so many indigenous languages that English is atleast a standard, nation-wide national language, and if you strictly wanted a native language, you could potentially end up with a situation such as India, or Canada, where different regions speak different languages (with Canada, I am of coarse refering to Quebec as oppose to the English speaking provinces), same with Belgium, and Switzerland, etc. and you may or may not be able to communicate with different people of different regions, depending on how many lamguages you learn in school (assuming you even go to school, but that's a different matter). In the movie "Lion" for example, without giving away too many spoilers, when Saroo arrives at Kolkata, he has a language barrier with most of the people there, even though he is in the same nation. On the other hand, you could have a country such as Greece, where EVERYONE speaks Greek, or France, where EVERYONE speaks French
3. Option 3, your problems are gonna be worse than "court cases are in pig latin" local governments aren't going to know which language to write street signs in, going to a hospital would be a nightmare, where patients and staff won't know which language to communicate to each other in, assuming that they speak the same language in the first place. Out of thirty patients, there might be thirty different languages, shops would have the same problems, there would probably need to be more TV and radio channels than the population can sustain, train station announcements would be a nightmare. There's a reason why nations choose standard/languages

Thank you.

[Australian rePublic]

Hello, and welcome to Got Issues. It's always nice to see a new writer
Before we get started, I noticed that you made three consecutive posts in a matter of three minutes. Calm down mate, just calm down! You're not a bad writer, and if this one doesn't make the cut, you can always write a new one In fact, I would encourage you to write a second issue either way, and a third issue, etc. We can never have too many good ideas for an issue! The only limit to your number of issues should be your creativity. Look at me, when I first started writing issues, I actually got a telegram saying how terrible my issues were and if I keep sending in terrible issues, I will continually get rejected, and now I have 4 published issues under my belt, and many more in waiting. Most authors here don't get it right on the first go, but that doesn't stop them from trying again. If this issue doesn't make the cut, you can always try again, and create another

Firstly, how long has @@NAME@@ existed, why is selecting a national language of a sudden a problem now? Wouldn't it have been solved either thousands of years ago, or (if @@NAME@@ is not that old), at the nation's creation?

That's not a good idea. There WILL be bilingual nations, lots of them.


Anywy, let's get to the heart of the issue:
1. Option 1, Why exactly would assigning a national language make a nation primative? EVERY nation is the world either has one, or has a different one for different regions
2. Ha? Why is it a bad thing to expect migrants to learn your nation's language. Besides, if you're educated, it's your RESPONSIBILITY to learn the language of the nation you're moving to. If you're educated there really is no excuse as to why you shouldn't atleast try to learn the language in fact, almost every real nation requires you to. Also, if it's a language such as English or Spanish, there's a possibility that migrants ALREADY speak that language, and if that's the case, then that's not the language of the natives. The natives would have their own indigenous language/s. You could also have a situation such as New Zealand, where Maori and English are both official languages. And English is definately not the native languageof New Zealand. There are also situations such as Australia, where there are so many indigenous languages that English is atleast a standard, nation-wide national language, and if you strictly wanted a native language, you could potentially end up with a situation such as India, or Canada, where different regions speak different languages (with Canada, I am of coarse refering to Quebec as oppose to the English speaking provinces), same with Belgium, and Switzerland, etc. and you may or may not be able to communicate with different people of different regions, depending on how many lamguages you learn in school (assuming you even go to school, but that's a different matter). In the movie "Lion" for example, without giving away too many spoilers, when Saroo arrives at Kolkata, he has a language barrier with most of the people there, even though he is in the same nation. On the other hand, you could have a country such as Greece, where EVERYONE speaks Greek, or France, where EVERYONE speaks French
3. Option 3, your problems are gonna be worse than "court cases are in pig latin" local governments aren't going to know which language to write street signs in, going to a hospital would be a nightmare, where patients and staff won't know which language to communicate to each other in, assuming that they speak the same language in the first place. Out of thirty patients, there might be thirty different languages, shops would have the same problems, there would probably need to be more TV and radio channels than the population can sustain, train station announcements would be a nightmare. There's a reason why nations choose standard/languages

Thank you.

You're welcome!

[Devernia]

About Option 3, I'd say that option is fine. This is NationStates, a game where you can literally ban cheese for no reason and enforce compulsory nudity. Having confusing road signs, train stations, and commercials for cheese shreddings would probably be what some random person in the world would like to have in their nation.

[Australian rePublic]

About Option 3, I'd say that option is fine. This is NationStates, a game where you can literally ban cheese for no reason and enforce compulsory nudity. Having confusing road signs, train stations, and commercials for cheese shreddings would probably be what some random person in the world would like to have in their nation.

I'm not saying that that kind of option is not acceptable by NationStates standards, in fact, it's the kind of humour that NS craves, what I am saying is that your problems would expand past court cases in pig latin

[Devernia]

About Option 3, I'd say that option is fine. This is NationStates, a game where you can literally ban cheese for no reason and enforce compulsory nudity. Having confusing road signs, train stations, and commercials for cheese shreddings would probably be what some random person in the world would like to have in their nation.

I'm not saying that that kind of option is not acceptable by NationStates standards, in fact, it's the kind of humour that NS craves, what I am saying is that your problems would expand past court cases in pig latin

Ah. Well, carry on.

[Bears Armed]

If you want, you can make this issue about different regions speaking different languages and that causes problems for people travelling across the nation to different regions, and (I'm gonna use Canada here, because it's the one I'm most familiar with) there is a language barrier. So for example, if someone were to travel from Ontario, where they speak English, to Quebec, where they speak French, there might be a language barrier, despite both provinces being in the same nation. In which case, you would have the options of

1. We Need a singe national language, a neutral one that will please everyone, so that everyone can communicate with each other in whichever region
2. Just use the language of @@CAPITAL@@, tht way everyone speaks that language, and we don't have to try to learn a brand new one from scratch (hmm, I wonder if this is the case with the United Kingdom, if everyone speaks English, despite other languages, like Gelic, hmmm. CWA is British, maybe he can verify if he chooses to post here)
3. Just teach everyone every language of every region. What could possibly go wrong?

That has similarities to

#071: Minority Group Demands Language Recognition [Pragmas; ed:SalusaSecondus]

The Issue
A group several thousands strong hailing from a remote, isolated corner of @@NAME@@ is staging a massive demonstration on the front steps of your capitol. They demand that their local dialect be recognized as an official language.

The Debate
1. @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Culture, has nothing but disdain for the demonstrators. "The language of @@NAME@@ is as important to our national identity as our history is. A truly erudite individual uses perfect grammar and refuses to speak as those ruffians do." Your Finance Minister is quick to chime in as well, "If business is required to print every road sign, instruction manual, and fast-food wrapper in two languages, it would increase everybody's overhead. That means higher prices for the person in the street."

2. "Smarker, but ee's gone blongie 'round the clonger! Trandy in the blang warked a newtie on the Cheebers, quaff me a duggle if it's brine. Sorky, hang our trandy high!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, speaking for the demonstrators, in an apparently rousing response that draws a cascade of cheers. After a few uncomfortable minutes with a professional translator, you find the speaker said, "I respectfully disagree with the Minister. Multilingualism has brought stability to richly-cultured nations such as Brancaland; indeed, I challenge you to provide a single counterexample. I encourage this government to adopt a policy of multilingualism throughout @@NAME@@!"

3. @@RANDOMNAME@@, a radical opposition member who seems to tag along to every demonstration she can find, has her own proposal. "The language barrier is keeping us all apart. What @@NAME@@ needs is a new identity defined by a new language that we can all agree on. That's unity without favoritism."

.

[Xusnium]

This is all some good information! I'll be sure to work on the issue tomorrow

[Xusnium]

ummmmm/.... imma hafta make a completly different issue.