Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 11:25:28 -0700 From: Hiten Pandya <hmp@FreeBSD.ORG> To: John Baldwin <jhb@FreeBSD.org> Cc: cvs-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: cvs commit: doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks chapter.sgml Message-ID: <20030507182528.GA91008@perrin.int.nxad.com> In-Reply-To: <XFMail.20030507130410.jhb@FreeBSD.org> References: <20030507084829.GB15496@HAL9000.homeunix.com> <XFMail.20030507130410.jhb@FreeBSD.org>
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On Wed, May 07, 2003 at 01:04:10PM -0400, John Baldwin wrote: > > On 07-May-2003 David Schultz wrote: > > On Wed, May 07, 2003, Hiten Pandya wrote: > >> On Tue, May 06, 2003 at 11:00:18PM -0700, Doug Barton wrote: > >> > > Actually, and according to my dictionary, irrelevant is more correct > >> > > here. > >> > > >> > That wasn't my actual question. :) Let me rephrase. "Given that these two > >> > words basically mean the same thing in context, what was the overwhelming > >> > necessity of this change?" If the reason was, "To make the meaning > >> > slightly more accurate," then we can argue the merits based on that... I'm > >> > just curious. > >> > >> Two reasons: > >> > >> a) Use simple english which everyone can understand. > >> Many people from the far east etc do not understand such > >> words, while they can undersand ``useless'' or > >> ''irrelevant''. This is also the same reason for my > >> "automatic to automagic" change. > >> > >> b) The 'insignificant' meaning of the word `moot' is > >> secondary, while it's primary meaning is the opposite > > > > I don't think that there's any requirement that FreeBSD > > documentation read like a Henry James novel. Some people have > > colorful writing styles that involve words such as > > ``automagical'', ``moot'', and ``kludge'', and I'm not convinced > > that this is a problem. Documentation isn't my domain, so I won't > > stick my nose into this any further, but unless our translators > > and other non-native English speakers have major qualms about > > this kind of detail, I do consider this to be gratuitous. > > Agreed. automagical is a favorite word of several folks and does > have a slightly different connotation from just 'automatic'. :) OK. I give up. I have answered atleast 20 mails regarding these two commits. If this upsets a lot of committers, than I apologise for this well-intentioned commit of mine. Thanks for the advise. I will keep it in mind. Cheers. -- Hiten (hmp@FreeBSD.ORG)
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