On 2012-05-31 07:59, Dave Crocker wrote: > > On 5/31/2012 8:36 AM, Brian E Carpenter wrote: >> Have we any evidence that this is a problem for the community? The >> informal >> style is one of the virtues of the Tao. I'd be sorry to lose it. > > > Let's separate use of colloquial language from overall writing style. It > is possible to write in an informal style without using colloquialisms. > I could, for example, insert some side comment here that would be > informal and lack colloquialisms. By some measures, the preceding > sentence is an example of exactly that... > > Colloquialisms are well known to impede understanding by non-native > English speakers. > > So, do you have any evidence that this is /not/ a problem for that part > of our community? I actually have no evidence either way; that's why I suggested asking some of them ;-) Brian