On Mar 11, 2014, at 5:12 PM, Thomas Heide Clausen <ietf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Don't we already have two languages used in the IETF, and even for editing RFCs - English and American: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfcfaq.html#british Dear Thomas, If we made better use of technology, we might use restful Asterick.org servers where each member is assigned their own extension to automatically convert language into text messaging, voice translations, and even video signing to fully support those handicapped by remote participation with different native languages. :^) I have had a hard time understanding someone speaking with an East London accent. I might even ask whether they could say it again in German. At least it then becomes possible to look up a word being missed. It also seems words tend to merge the nearer to the equator the speaker resides. Even small distances seem perceptible. Many of us would have an impossible time handling tonal languages simply because our ears are unable to hear the differences because our sound recognition settles in at about 3 months of age. Of course, getting old also causes loss of higher frequencies which may make some female voices difficult to hear within a noisy background. It seems technology could benefit everyone. Regards, Douglas Otis Life is a dream, from which we must all awake.