User:Mzajac/Regional language vs regional topics

This is a think-tank draft for making a distinction between regional language and geographic context. A basic description of the problem and main discussion should remain at Beer parlour archive/2008/May. —Michael Z. 2008-05-15 00:31 z 

Tagging

 * 1) Regional English and other languages will continue to be indicated on individual senses with regional context templates.
 * 2) * The general-purpose will continue to be used for ad hoc regionalisms.
 * 3) * Regional tags in other places will continue to be applied with, , , etc.
 * 4) Geographic context will be indicated by a new set of context templates:, , ,.
 * 5) * A general-purpose template will collect ad hoc regions.

Appearance

 * The new geographic context templates should be clearly distinguishable from regional language templates. Proposals:
 * Letterspaced small caps: in the UK
 * Italic serif font: in Canada
 * square brackets: [in New Zealand]

Categories
The regional language and geographic context tags should have mostly separate category trees, intersecting where it is logical. Here are some possible paths through the tree:


 * Regional language remains within the hierarchy of language families, languages, and dialects.
 * Fundamental > All languages > Languages by country > Languages of the Americas > Languages of Canada > English language > Regional English > Canadian English > Newfoundland English > Canadian English slang
 * Language categories also fall within their geographical scope.
 * Fundamental > *Topics > Geography > Place names > Countries > Canada > Canadian English
 * Geographic context categories have their own hierarchy, also falling under geography at every level.
 * Fundamental > *Topics > Geography > Continents > In North America > In Canada > In the Canadian Prairies > In Saskatchewan > In Regina

Documentation

 * Templates and categories should have names and text content which makes their nature clear (e.g. vs.
 * Should regional language templates always include a clear attributive? UK English, British, US English, Scottish, Canadian English, Manitoban, Manitoba English, but not UK, Britain, US, Scotland, Canada, Manitoba
 * Should geographic context templates always include in ...?


 * Templates and categories should all carry simple documentation on their usage (facilitated with templates?), and clearly link to their counterparts. Example:
 * This regional language template,, is applied to terms or senses as they are used by Scottish speakers. To identify a sense with particular meaning in reference to Scotland by any speaker of English, use .  Learn more....