Re: Linguistics.... Re: Datahands (getting OT)

Marcus Brooks schrieb:
> I'm very interested in this topic. I'm finding it hard to resist chiming 
> in, but as a moderator I feel obliged to mention that it's getting just 
> a bit off the list topic.
>
>   
You are right of course, but it was not intended to start a lengthy 
discussion about the subject.
> Out of curiosity, is there a group that discusses language revival, 
> survival, or loss? Let us know, and we can move the topic over there.
>   
There are groups about single languages, but I don’t know of any groups 
about endangered languages in general.
> PS: Recently read that over 3000 languages (half or more of the world 
> total) will die with the current generation. Also read (heard in a 
> lecture, actually) that something like 95% (98?) of the world population 
> speaks one of only 20 languages as a first or second language. I'm not 
> sure if there are keyboard layouts for all 20. We could talk about that!
>
>   
You can get a first idea there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout

I found it interesting that the Turks have had an ergonomic keyboard 
layout since 1955.
It would be interesting to know if people in general prefer the 
ergonomic layout over the QWERTY layout.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Turkish

Some groups are devising optimized layouts for their language:
German:
http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/neo_layout/
French:
https://gpl.insa-lyon.fr/mailman/listinfo/dvorak-fr