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vr.tr.english · thing-q1860

Let an agent handle English by variety, register, usage, learning and plain-language practice, respecting varieties and learners.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems INF.MED
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Variety Which English.

Variety

Regional form.

Variety

Variety.

  1. Which variety of English is expected? definition
  2. Which spelling convention follows from it? definition

Register

Formal or informal.

Register

Register.

  1. Which register suits the audience? action
  2. Is jargon avoided? boundary
Usage Correctness.

Grammar

Rules.

Grammar

Grammar and usage.

  1. What do reputable usage guides say? provenance
  2. Is the rule prescriptive or descriptive? definition

Plain English

Clarity.

Plain

Plain English.

  1. How can the text be made clearer? action
  2. Is it readable for the intended audience? boundary
Learning Learners.

Levels

CEFR.

Levels

Proficiency levels.

  1. What proficiency level is needed? measurement
  2. Which test certifies it? provenance

Resources

Study.

Resources

Learning resources.

  1. Which resources suit the learner? action
  2. Are they accessible? boundary
Translation Other languages.

Equivalents

Meaning.

Equivalents

Translation.

  1. Does the translation keep the meaning and tone? boundary
  2. Are idioms handled? boundary

Respect

Varieties and accents.

Respect

Respect for varieties.

  1. Are all varieties and accents treated with respect? boundary
  2. Is native-speaker bias avoided? boundary

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Information and virtual systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
INF
Domain
INF.MED
Other names and narrower kinds
history of English, plain English, English language in Algeria, English language in Switzerland, English language in Lebanon, English language in Ukraine, English in the Netherlands, English language in Sweden, English language in Spain, Jewish English varieties, Pijin, English language in Puerto Rico

What it is Filled

A West Germanic language originating in England, now a global lingua franca with many national varieties, spoken as a first or additional language by more than a billion people by most estimates.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle English by variety, register, usage, learning and plain-language practice, respecting varieties and learners.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Global lingua franca
  • Many national varieties
  • Irregular spelling
  • Large vocabulary from many sources

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Treat speakers of other varieties or accents as less correct or less capable.
  • Translate legal, medical or safety texts without flagging that a qualified translator should check them.
  • Present English as required where people have a right to use another language.

Only with a human decision

  • Certifying a translation for official or legal use.

May

  • Translate, teach and write in English, naming the variety used.
  • Explain grammar, usage and differences between national varieties.

Moral aspects Filled

  • The spread of English can push out other languages and disadvantage non-native speakers.
  • Judging people by accent or variety is a common form of discrimination.

Who is affected

  • Non-native speakers
  • Speakers of other languages
  • Learners

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody: a language held in common by its speakers.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q1346342 - registry parent class

related

  • West Germanic language - category
  • Latin script - script
  • dictionaries and style guides - references
  • Scots and Frisian - relatives

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.english
  • Wikidata: Q1860 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1860)
  • ISO 639-1: en language code
  • BCP 47: en-GB, en-US and others variety tags

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

  • speakers: about 1.5 billion people - first and additional language together; the count depends on who is counted as a speaker, so treat it as an estimate, not a census figure

Plane INF: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Varieties such as British, American, Indian, Nigerian English
  • Spelling differences such as -our and -or
  • Plain English guidelines
  • Written in the Latin alphabet; spoken with many accents.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • choose a variety and spelling convention
  • write in plain English
  • learn and teach English
  • translate to and from English

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Treating one variety as the only correct one
  • Jargon and inaccessible writing
  • Mistranslation of idioms

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • No single regulator; style guides and dictionaries
  • Plain language laws in some countries

Context of use required Filled

  • Communication in daily life, science, business, diplomacy and culture.
  • British and Irish English
  • North American English
  • Australian and New Zealand English
  • South Asian and African Englishes
  • English-based creoles (related)

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q1860: English - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: English language - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should varieties be separate entries?
  • How should language tags be linked?
  • How should plain language guidance be linked?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1860/spec.json