Important development decision

[peter1138]

The developers have had a mass debate, but there was no concensus. Can you decide?

[MacLir]

I use the two spellings to a varying degree. Normally, I just type it; if it happens to be an s or a z, its just the way it goes. I have no preference on either spelling, so I didn't vote.

[Brianetta]

In British English, the z form is a correct form surprisingly frequently. Words like excercise, improvise and surprise are always incorrect if given a z (even in US English), but words like organize, randomize and sensationalize are correct British English. Just to make things complicated, the -ise form of these words are (more recently) also correct in British English, but incorrect in US English. My suggestion would be to look for other words like these in the source, and be consistent.

Citations:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_boar ... s/785.html
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ise1.htm
http://www.translationdirectory.com/article142.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_a ... e_.2F_-ize

From that last one:

American spelling accepts only -ize endings in most cases, such as organize, recognize, and realize. British usage accepts both -ize and the more French-looking -ise (organise, recognise, realise). However, the -ize spelling is now rarely used in the UK in the mass media and newspapers, and is hence often incorrectly regarded as an Americanism [1], despite being preferred by some authoritative British sources, including Fowler's Modern English Usage and the Oxford English Dictionary, which until recently did not list the -ise form of many individual words, even as an alternative. Indeed, it firmly deprecates this usage, stating, "The suffix, whatever the element to which it is added, is in its origin the Greek... (or) Latin -izare; and, as the pronunciation is also with z, there is no reason why in English the special French spelling in -iser should be followed, in opposition to that which is at once etymological and phonetic."

[Sacro]

mass debate

hehe, that almost sounds like... well erm

[Invisble]

I am actully curious as to why there was such a mass debate over it? either spelling is technically correct.

I am also guessing that the spelling has something to do with a patch or feature that is implimented or going to be implimented.

Personally I am used to seeing the "ise" version, though I generally use the "ize" spelling.

Therefore to me it does not matter.

edit:

This may seem a strange option to say. But as the vast majority of people in the UK are used to seeing "ise" while our american cousins are used to seeing "ise", and the fact that there are a whole host of american (mis)spellings, maybe it would be an idea to have a seperate language pack for Americans and British.

[mexicoshanty]

In Australia we've banned the 'z'. Well that was the case when i went to school. Why can't we have both? We have the option to set the language in game options.

[Darkvater]

This may seem a strange option to say. But as the vast majority of people in the UK are used to seeing "ise" while our american cousins are used to seeing "ise", and the fact that there are a whole host of american (mis)spellings, maybe it would be an idea to have a seperate language pack for Americans and British.

there's already been one for the past 2 years.

[jez]

I am actully curious as to why there was such a mass debate over it? either spelling is technically correct.

I am also guessing that the spelling has something to do with a patch or feature that is implimented or going to be implimented.

Good guess. It is regarding an extension, and I (as the UK developer of patch) firmly vote for randomiZe.

This may seem a strange option to say. But as the vast majority of people in the UK are used to seeing "ise" while our american cousins are used to seeing "ise", and the fact that there are a whole host of american (mis)spellings, maybe it would be an idea to have a seperate language pack for Americans and British.

(I take it you meant to say 'ize' second time round...)

Well I'm in the UK and I far prefer iZe in most circumstances. And there is a US language pack, but the point is that iZe is perfectly valid in British English too.

[richk67]

Err... having worked as a technical author for 11 years, I can assure you that the correct use in British (UK) English is -ise endings.

-ize is an acceptable alternative, but it is an acceptance of the Americanisation of British English rather than anything with a UK history to it.

However, usage is modified depending on your audience, so if you are writing a document that may have a US readership, or uses a high proportion of US English phrases (eg. computing), then -ize becomes more appropriate.

English is a language where its flexibility is the prime benefit. So, if -ize more easily communicates your meaning to the widest audience, then it is acceptable.

I suspect that e-words, like "tonite" will also become acceptable.

[Dave]

Randomise LOOKS better.

[Born Acorn]

ize is Americanisation! Down with Americanisation of other cultures!

[Ailure]

This may seem a strange option to say. But as the vast majority of people in the UK are used to seeing "ise" while our american cousins are used to seeing "ise", and the fact that there are a whole host of american (mis)spellings, maybe it would be an idea to have a seperate language pack for Americans and British.

there's already been one for the past 2 years.

Wasn't there one for even the orginal Transport Tycoon? Well ok, the TTO version where they added the fictional names or something... although I always go with Brittish English anyway.

My English is a bit mixed between Brittish and US English. So eh... though I am more comfortable with randomize. Was there really a such big debate over this?

[WWTBAM]

I would prefer ise as im ausie, and thats how ive been taught to spell it.

[Prof. Frink]

-ise.

Z is an angry letter, whereas S is friendly. We want openTTD to be as user-friendly as possible, so should avoid using Z wherever possible.

[brupje]

as dutch person, I like ize better.

[LordOfThePigs]

I suggest we randomise this decision...

[Rubidium]

English in OpenTTD is British English, as there is a separate American English translation. Therefor it would be most logical to use British English should be the language that is chosen for variable names, functions, string name, constants, comments etc.

[RiTi]

Can someone tell me why this is such an issue?

[Sacro]

English in OpenTTD is British English, as there is a separate American English translation. Therefor it would be most logical to use British English should be the language that is chosen for variable names, functions, string name, constants, comments etc.

The problem comes when you realise external SDKs use color rather than colour...

[Invisble]

The thing is American english is the english usage that is the most common around the world. Most electronic disctionarys unless told to use british english will default to american english. Most programming languages as well prefer to use american english.

Therfore in code I suggest american english is used for the code (after all how many people apart from dev's/patch makers will ever read the code), and for on screen the american and british language packs choose the correct/most common format.

Of course I find it intresting at the moment, because at the time of posting this 40 votes had been posted, and 20 were for "randomize" and 20 for "randomise".