Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2007 November 19

= November 19 =

English to Finnish translation
I would like to know the Finnish translation for

"The picture of Luca Badoer was incorrect. It is a picture of Pierluigi Martini."

It would be great if that translation could be added to http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keskustelu:Luca_Badoer, but I can add it myself.

I made a change to the Finnish Wikipedia but would like to respectfully explain it for people who do not speak English.

Thank you, Guroadrunner (talk) 09:39, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Why not just change the picture? --ChokinBako (talk) 01:21, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I did change the image URL as it had indicated it was Badoer, but it actually was Martini. I just wanted to explain my action in Finnish, but I guess it's not a biggie as most Finns know English (which is cool). Go Kimi! Guroadrunner (talk) 06:53, 20 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Do you have a free picture of Luca Badoer? --Lambiam 01:31, 20 November 2007 (UTC)


 * From our article on Finland: "The majority of Finns learn enough English in school and from media to be proficient in that language." This is even more so for Finnish computer users, including the Finnish Wikipedia editors. --Lambiam 01:35, 20 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks, I won't need to worry then. Guroadrunner (talk) 06:53, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Why come?
Why come I can't say, why come? Why come? 64.236.121.129 (talk) 16:41, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I think you mean why do we say "How come" and not "Why come"? I guess it's a short way of saying "How does it come about that...?" and not "Why does it come about that...?" Xn4  17:18, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Can you but, can you but. Understand will though nobody you. --Milkbreath (talk) 17:20, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * As with any word/grammar/phrases in the english language all that stops it being allowed is popular convention. If 'why come' becomes popular enough it will be considered normal usage and no longer be considered incorrect. After all what the hell would people have thought the word d'oh meant 25 years ago? Or think about how lol is becoming normal usage outside of the realms of the internet. The sticklers will say it's wrong, but it's the beauty of the language ny156uk (talk) 17:59, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * In reply to Ny156 above -
 * Person A "This party is boring"
 * Person B "Why come?"
 * Person A "Good point, I should have stayed at home"
 * Will this do? :) =) doktorb wordsdeeds 18:24, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Will this do? :) =) doktorb wordsdeeds 18:24, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Specific name
I'm aware that Erxleben's Felis domesticus isn't a valid species name now, but regardless, how come it's domesticus rather than domestica, since Felis is a feminine noun? --Lazar Taxon (talk) 19:09, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Good question! Maybe Erxleben thought, "Ego sum Iohannes Erxleben et super grammaticam". —Angr 19:40, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Maybe he assumed that it was masculine like "canis" (or, rather, either masculine or feminine, as canis apparently is). Adam Bishop (talk) 23:11, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

essay
could i get feedback on an essay or does wikipedia not allow this Timessquarequestionmark (talk) 21:52, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia does not provide proofreading services, if that's what you're asking. If you ask someone here nicely, though, they might take a look at it. (That wouldn't have anything to do with Wikipedia though.) —Keenan Pepper 04:53, 20 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Could make a start, at least, by telling us what the essay is about. --ChokinBako (talk) 01:06, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Is Wikipedia available in languages other than English?
I was looking at the meaning of SIGNAGE then wondered if it is the same word in French?68.59.34.148 (talk) 23:22, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
 * There are Wikipedias in quite a few languages. You can navigate between them in an article through the "Languages" panel on the left side of an article, which links to the corresponding page in that language. In answer to your question about "Signage," this seems to be what you're looking for. — Insanity Incarnat  e  00:09, 20 November 2007 (UTC)