Comments: Proposal for displaying languages

Language Codes definitally!
The problem with flags is the identification.
For english I have to look for either the US or UK flag, and for spanish I have to look for Spain's Flag, Mexico's, or any south-american flag.

[EN] and [ES] are far more easier to locate.

Posted by Jed at September 20, 2003 11:54 PM

i think it'sbetter with language codes, i mean, why if i live on southamerica i'dhave to choose Spain's flag...

Posted by Mateo Yadarola at September 21, 2003 12:02 AM

While codes (and I note that the current list is a mixture of ISO codes and Internet domains) are far superior to flags, the language's name in its language would be far easier for a native speaker to recognise. Also, labeling the bar 'Language:' is only of use to those who can speak English.

Posted by at September 21, 2003 12:37 AM

I think flags are better. They're simply looking nicer. But the flags you use are not as stylish as the flags for example LetsBuyIt.com uses. But thats just in my humble opinion...

Posted by Stefan at September 21, 2003 3:27 AM

Hi David,

I already updated the German localization today and like the language codes much better than flags. The currently available languages are official languages in dozens of countries around the world, that's why country flags seem a bit inappropriate.

Posted by Tom at September 21, 2003 12:43 PM

Keep the language codes, as someone coming from England I find it odd that you'd use the US flag to represent English - the US use a 'dumbed down' version of English

Posted by Dave at September 21, 2003 7:14 PM

How about a title tag ("tooltip") on the language codes that shows the full language name in that language.

Posted by dave at September 22, 2003 10:00 AM

Another problem with flags is that there's no one-to-one match between flags and languages. Take Afrikaans for example, spoken mostly in South Africa. You would have to use the SA flag. However, SA has 11 (eleven!) national languages, none of them being clearly the preferred language. It's simply illogical to then connect the SA flag to Afrikaans.

Language codes sounds doable. However, you get problems like NL symbolising dutch where to someone from the flemish part of Belgium, where they speak dutch, NL symbolises the Netherlands. Imho, the only acceptable, non-confusing way is using the full name of the language printed in the language itself, but if there's no space for that, well...

Posted by Joeri Sebrechts at September 22, 2003 2:53 PM