RE: SHEI - Qui tacet consentit

So, one needs a "standard" multilingual symbol.

The options are:
 - Consolidating an existing one such as the globe/map
 - Creating a brand new one such Ϣ

It should have the following characteristics:
 - Unique and unambiguous for multilingualism
 - Visually distinctive
 - Adapted to small and large graphic representations
 - Ready: a character in Unicode where the glyph is present in most computers

The globe/map fails the above. For example, it has other uses such as "network"; the intention is to have a symbol without any existing use and that it is immediately recognised as meaning only multilingualism.

Little of the existing will be broken. For example, most web sites just have the word "English" in a drop-down menu to indicate more languages; also, if a webmaster continuous with the globe/map, his website will continue to function.

Regards
C. 



<Yunker>
While I do see the need for a symbol, to a great extent we already have a symbol -- two in fact -- various implementation of globe and map icons.

So to say there is no multilingual symbol is not quite correct as users are quite accustomed in many scenarios to look for a globe to "change language" or "change locale." To change this to SHEI is no trivial matter and could in many cases make matters much worse.
 
So what I'd like to see is a compelling reason for why companies should switch from a globe, for example, to a SHEI. 
 
I'd like to work with the symbols already out there in the wild and work to consolidate onto one "standard" symbol. 
</Yunker>

Received on Friday, 2 July 2010 10:07:29 UTC