I’m aware that the board language is English. My question is how much of another language is permissible? I’ve seen people use whole sentences of French and Spanish without a problem. Would there be anything wrong with using a few words of another language, where the context makes clear what the intended meaning is, like in this example ?
I wonder how many people here actually speak Afrikaans, so they would know what a “gatkruiper”, a “doos”, or a “poes gevriet” is? I speak Dutch, so I know a “gatkruiper” is literally a “hole crawler”. I also know a “doos” is literally a box, but can also mean a vulva if used in a sexual context. I also know a “poes” is a cat (or pussy if its used in a sexual context), but what is a “poes gevriet”?
All in all, I think those are a little hard for someone who doesn’t speak Afrikaans or Dutch to understand, when compared to something like “voila” or “je ne sais quois”.
We tend not to be extremely strict about the language rule when it comes to short snatches. Proper English does allow for some common phrases in other languages, e.g., Latin. Or the phrases that Mycroft has mentioned, for French. If the translation is provided, we have less problem.
The difficulty is that if I call you a singe grande or a khakham, neither you nor the Moderator know whether it’s a compliment or an insult or anything else, unless you (or the Moderators) happen to know French or Hebrew, respectively. That becomes very difficult, with the number of different languages available through the web. Hence, we frown on the use of untranslated non-English, because it tends to be inconsistent with the notion of moderated boards.
[sub]OK, singe grande is French for “great ape” and khakham is Hebrew for “wise one.”[/sub]
I understand this, although in that case, context should make it clear they are swearwords. Certainly no mod came in to slap me on the wrist.
I’m not talking about dropping stealth swearwords into GQ here, in case that wasn’t clear from that Pit example. Monty just mentioned the “English only” rule, and I took him at his word, but since then I’ve seen people use short snatches of other languages (and I’m not talking about adopted French or Yiddish words) without it being a problem.
So it’s OK if I use translations? That sucks, Afrikaans is such a lovely language to swear in, as you can link so many words together…
Mycroft, “gevriet” is a rude way of saying “mouth”.
OK, now I get it. I have a colleague from Durban, so I’ll have to remember that one. Since she’s lesbian, I guess it’s especially fitting! 
As is damning someone in Yiddish or wooing them in French. However, the purpose of our boards is to be open to everyone, and to create a “community.” That doesn’t happen if some small group uses a language that only they understand. So, we insist on English as what is now the pretty-much universal language.
Translations of short bits are acceptable, up to a point. The point is when someone reports what you’ve said to a Moderator, and the Moderator can’t understand it, and will probably assume the worst. If it was liver, it would be the wurst.
Groan 
I get it, that answers my question, thanks.
BTW, just a heads-up, my automatic notification for this thread sent out 3 copies of the last one. Just in case you’re about to be deluded by “stop spamming me, SDMB” threads in the Pit…
grand singe is correct but it’s very injurious :eek: