this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2022
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International auxiliary languages should be utilized in software development (to improve international collaboration). (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by Amicchan@lemmy.ml to c/programming@lemmy.ml
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Given that international auxiliary languages allow for more efficient cooperation; I think more people should consider using an easily learnable IAL, like Esperanto.

IALs would reduce the English dominance that gate-keeps software development to English persons; and hence allow more potential software developers to better develop software. The English language is mostly dominant in software development because of linguistic imperialism.

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[โ€“] ttmrichter@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Any second language used only for programming purposes is going to be doomed from the outset anyway. I work in a Chinese engineering firm. They work with Chinese people (and me). They sell their products to Chinese firms. What possible incentive could they have to make all their engineers use a different language than Mandarin to communicate in? If they grow to the point that international markets are a concern, they'll have to i18n their products anyway (because their customers won't be speaking some conlang!) and given the costs of that, updating the design documents in another language is a minor cost.

Conlang IALs are a solution in search of a problem for an overwhelming number of professionals. They present a high-cost initial barrier of entry (the time it takes to learn the conlang to fluency) with a very low payout in the short- and medium-term for almost all involved people. And even if the engineers in question did learn the conlang do you genuinely believe they'll use it when doing work among other speakers of their own language? Do you genuinely believe the conlang will be the primary communication tool?

Idealism is a good thing. A great thing. Provided that it is, in some fashion, compatible with reality. A conlang IAL for programming is not compatible with reality.

[โ€“] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Any second language used only for programming purposes is going to be doomed from the outset anyway.

Not if it's consistently used by everyone.

I work in a Chinese engineering firm. They work with Chinese people (and me). They sell their products to Chinese firms. What possible incentive could they have to make all their engineers use a different language than Mandarin to communicate in?

They don't and that's fine.

If they grow to the point that international markets are a concern, they'll have to i18n their products anyway and given the costs of that, updating the design documents in another language is a minor cost.

Yep, including conlangs.

Conlang IALs are a solution in search of a problem for an overwhelming number of professionals.

In search of what problem?

They present a high-cost initial barrier of entry (the time it takes to learn the conlang to fluency) with a very low payout in the short- and medium-term for almost all involved people.

Where's your proof?

Learning English and Mandarin also has a high-cost initial barrier of entry; IALs are however better designed for inter linguistic speakers.

And even if the engineers in question did learn the conlang do you genuinely believe they'll use it when doing work among other speakers of their own language?

yes.

Do you genuinely believe the conlang will be the primary communication tool?

IALs, yes.