30 april 2006
The language thing
Henk Ellerman really sparked the discussion on the choice of language for blogging. This discussion had simmered a little bit at the back of my mind, and I always intended to post about this subject, but never got around to write it all up. as allways. A post on this subject by flexnib on the language thing really made me think about this topic.
That discussion on the language thing started in the comments section on a post about EndNote. The blogpost was in Dutch, but an English version was posted on the EndNote mailinglist. A Malay Australian librarian with a very Dutch name reacted on that blogpost. In the brief thread which followed in the comments I added “Sometimes I consider to blog bilingually, but there are already so many English Biblioblogs, that adding just another hardly makes sense. In the Dutch biblioblogsphere there are only a few blogs.”.
Thinking a wee bit about the point I made then, taking into consideration what Henk said about the news worthiness of the Dutch Library scene, I see my blog more as ploughing in some of the experiences written down in the Anglo Saxon biblioblogosphere into the Dutch one. As far as a Dutch biblioblogosphere exists. Gerard (not in a hurry), stated rightfully that the the Dutch biblioblogosphere is still very young. Still in its budding stages, really. I think for myself that we should grow this biblioblogosphere carefully before we start contributing to the International biblioblogosphere on a large scale.
A second point for which I do use my blog is plough back some of the (Library and Information Science) LIS research back in the Dutch library scene. As far as I am concerned there is not a Dutch LIS environment whatsoever. There is no exchange between Dutch (Academic) LIS Researchers –since they don’t exist- and Dutch (Academic) Libraries. So the little Evidence Based Librarianship we want to apply in practice we have to find in the international literature. There is however, a large gap between the practitioners (my direct colleagues) and the reading they should do. This is equally true for the Aglosaxon researchers and practioners, where there shouldn't be a language barrier (Haddow et al. 2004). So I use this blog as a medium to expose some of my colleagues to this international research, I try to reach out to a Dutch community. In what language else should this be done?
Last point on the need of editors. In either language I do need good editors. But who wants to take care of my diarrhoea?
Haddow, G., J.E. Klobas & J.E. Klobas (2004). Communication of research to practice in library and information science: Closing the gap. Library and Information Science Research 26(1): 29-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2003.11.010.
Technorati tags: Languages; Blogging;
That discussion on the language thing started in the comments section on a post about EndNote. The blogpost was in Dutch, but an English version was posted on the EndNote mailinglist. A Malay Australian librarian with a very Dutch name reacted on that blogpost. In the brief thread which followed in the comments I added “Sometimes I consider to blog bilingually, but there are already so many English Biblioblogs, that adding just another hardly makes sense. In the Dutch biblioblogsphere there are only a few blogs.”.
Thinking a wee bit about the point I made then, taking into consideration what Henk said about the news worthiness of the Dutch Library scene, I see my blog more as ploughing in some of the experiences written down in the Anglo Saxon biblioblogosphere into the Dutch one. As far as a Dutch biblioblogosphere exists. Gerard (not in a hurry), stated rightfully that the the Dutch biblioblogosphere is still very young. Still in its budding stages, really. I think for myself that we should grow this biblioblogosphere carefully before we start contributing to the International biblioblogosphere on a large scale.
A second point for which I do use my blog is plough back some of the (Library and Information Science) LIS research back in the Dutch library scene. As far as I am concerned there is not a Dutch LIS environment whatsoever. There is no exchange between Dutch (Academic) LIS Researchers –since they don’t exist- and Dutch (Academic) Libraries. So the little Evidence Based Librarianship we want to apply in practice we have to find in the international literature. There is however, a large gap between the practitioners (my direct colleagues) and the reading they should do. This is equally true for the Aglosaxon researchers and practioners, where there shouldn't be a language barrier (Haddow et al. 2004). So I use this blog as a medium to expose some of my colleagues to this international research, I try to reach out to a Dutch community. In what language else should this be done?
Last point on the need of editors. In either language I do need good editors. But who wants to take care of my diarrhoea?
Haddow, G., J.E. Klobas & J.E. Klobas (2004). Communication of research to practice in library and information science: Closing the gap. Library and Information Science Research 26(1): 29-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2003.11.010.
Technorati tags: Languages; Blogging;
Labels: Dutch
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Hi Wowter,
Thanks for the reaction to my call to converse in English on our blogs. If it is your goal to be an intermediary between the Anglo-Saxon literature and the Dutch blog world, be my guest, but I really don't think it requires you to write in Dutch. Blogs are almost of necessity intermediaries, but not between languages, but between the literature and the poor readers (yes, us) who have to understand it all. This is a universal problem and one of the reasons blogs are read. As a bonus one often gets new insights by reading the comments of others. Blogs, to me, are almost a kind of interactive summaries in this respect.
We should not confuse the role of a translator with the role of an (conceptual) intermediary.
Another thing: I did not say that the Dutch blogs are boring, they are not! What is a tad boring is the dutch library field in general. There is little there that makes your heart miss a beat. That is not because we are incapable of that, I have seen too many smart Dutchies to think that. It is just that the focus on the nitty-gritty details of library life distracts us. We have to do that for a large part of our working day, of course, but why should we do that too in our blogs?
Thanks for the reaction to my call to converse in English on our blogs. If it is your goal to be an intermediary between the Anglo-Saxon literature and the Dutch blog world, be my guest, but I really don't think it requires you to write in Dutch. Blogs are almost of necessity intermediaries, but not between languages, but between the literature and the poor readers (yes, us) who have to understand it all. This is a universal problem and one of the reasons blogs are read. As a bonus one often gets new insights by reading the comments of others. Blogs, to me, are almost a kind of interactive summaries in this respect.
We should not confuse the role of a translator with the role of an (conceptual) intermediary.
Another thing: I did not say that the Dutch blogs are boring, they are not! What is a tad boring is the dutch library field in general. There is little there that makes your heart miss a beat. That is not because we are incapable of that, I have seen too many smart Dutchies to think that. It is just that the focus on the nitty-gritty details of library life distracts us. We have to do that for a large part of our working day, of course, but why should we do that too in our blogs?
Hello Wowter :)
I have to say I like the points Henk makes about being an intermediary. It would be nice to hear what Dutch librarians (or librarians anywhere in the world, for that matter!) think about the issues common to us all in librarianship.
Perhaps you could write in both languages - use English for some posts, for which you want a more international readership.
As for having an editor, I don't think it's necessary - wouldn't that detract from the whole blogging experience? Blogging is usually quite immediate, and just your thoughts, warts and all. An editor would only really be necessary if you are writing for traditional publication (books, journal articles), in my humble opinion.
Lastly, are there really no Dutch researchers in the academic LIS field?? I'm really surprised to hear that!
Constance Wiebrands
Perth, Western Australia
I have to say I like the points Henk makes about being an intermediary. It would be nice to hear what Dutch librarians (or librarians anywhere in the world, for that matter!) think about the issues common to us all in librarianship.
Perhaps you could write in both languages - use English for some posts, for which you want a more international readership.
As for having an editor, I don't think it's necessary - wouldn't that detract from the whole blogging experience? Blogging is usually quite immediate, and just your thoughts, warts and all. An editor would only really be necessary if you are writing for traditional publication (books, journal articles), in my humble opinion.
Lastly, are there really no Dutch researchers in the academic LIS field?? I'm really surprised to hear that!
Constance Wiebrands
Perth, Western Australia
@Henk,
I never thought you found the Dutch bibibliobogosphere boring. Though you miss the odd post here and there, never mind.
I am under the impression that you agree that there is a more than larger gap between LIS researchers and practitioners in Netherlands than in our surrounding countries.....
I never thought you found the Dutch bibibliobogosphere boring. Though you miss the odd post here and there, never mind.
I am under the impression that you agree that there is a more than larger gap between LIS researchers and practitioners in Netherlands than in our surrounding countries.....
@CW
I have been thinking about that point. But unfortuntaly, the answer is affermitive. I am well an truly under the impression that there is no Dutch Academic LIS resaerch environment whatsoever. It sounds a bit harsh, but so be it.
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I have been thinking about that point. But unfortuntaly, the answer is affermitive. I am well an truly under the impression that there is no Dutch Academic LIS resaerch environment whatsoever. It sounds a bit harsh, but so be it.
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