7 ms·
I think a grammar checker that warned about cross-cultural confusion would be pretty valuable in many writing contexts. It would best be constructed in that li
by nullc 5y ago
I think a grammar checker that warned about cross-cultural confusion would be pretty valuable in many writing contexts. It would best be constructed in that light: rather than moralizing or being activist just noting the fact that some text has a non-trivial odds of being understood in a way different than you likely intended.
So for example, a writer of British English may want to be warned that "Bring me some fags when you return" may be misunderstood by American readers.
This hypothetical checker might still warn you about "master"-- for example-- as there is now a sizable contingent that finds it controversial. ... but it would equally warn you against terms like "birthing person" which is considered by many to be biologically reductive to the point of being offensive, and by most people to be at least highly loaded.
Such a tool would almost certainly not caution you against "landlord".
- canadaduane 5y agoYes! This is much more interesting. Audience-based cultural & contextual awareness, rather than "assuming one global context" that takes the veneer of moral high ground. The former would be more helpful to a writer.