[gcompris-devel] suggest don't use a flag to represent a language in language selector in both GCompris software and website

[Bruno Coudoin]

Le samedi 24 avril 2010 à 17:58 +0800, littlebat a écrit :
> Freedom software is for human beings, for languages, and not for
> countries.

Hum, everyone can have its reasons to use or develop free software.
Personally I have nothing against countries in general.

> I found in GCompris V9.3Beta2, there is a "flag" of Taiwan to
> represent the Traditional Chinese in language selector. This will
> cause a critical argument concerning politics. As known, the "flag" of
> Taiwan can't be used most areas in this world. So, it also should
> can't be used in GCompris.

Well this is a tough issue that span well beyond the scope of GCompris. 

I agree that we have to take care of the sensibility of all children and
of all cultures. My hope is to help children progress in their learning,
we don't need to offence anybody for that. 

By the way Marc Levivier who manages the paintings activity in GCompris
sent me a new set of puzzle to replace some that were considered
offending by some persons (nudity, blood). I still have to integrate
them.

> GCompris is a freedom software for human beings, so it should avoid
> politics issue, I think.

I also agree but one way or another if we keep the flag or remove it we
will offence a country or another.

> Language <> country.

Yes, it does not always make sense to have a flag per country. So far a
flag in GCompris should be the one of the country in which this language
is the most prevalent. For Arabic which spans multiple countries we
invented a green flag that I hope gives a good representation.

> For our common goal, I suggest cancel flags in both GCompris software
> and website to avoid this issue.

I am not sure this is the way to go. I checked and we don't have an asia
map for the geography activity. A contribution is welcome BTW. Let's say
we do it, I don't see how we could avoid putting Taiwan there.

So yes removing the flags would solve the issue and they are not really
correct anyway. But they give a good opportunity to children to discover
country flags. Another option would be to show the flags in the
geography activity itself. It would be more accurate but again the
Taiwan flag would be there.

I am open for discussion, what do other think ?


-- 
Bruno Coudoin
http://gcompris.net  Free educational software for kids
http://toulibre.org  Logiciel Libre à Toulouse
http://april.org     Promouvoir et défendre le Logiciel Libre