ZBB Census 2016

[Vijay]

And how is C a language?

Computer language?

[jal]

And how is C a language?

Well, it's a programming language, so at least that can be explained as a somewhat unfunny joke...


JAL

[Burke]

And how is C a language?

Well, it's a programming language, so at least that can be explained as a somewhat unfunny joke...

While it could be a joke, I honestly didn't mean it like that. I've loved C for a while and been on a particular kick of it as of late, so it was the first thing that came to mind.

[mèþru]

And how is C a language?

Humor? Maybe?

[jal]

While it could be a joke, I honestly didn't mean it like that. I've loved C for a while and been on a particular kick of it as of late, so it was the first thing that came to mind.

Yeah, but, come on, this is a language forum, not a programmer's forum, so you kinda failed the Turing test here ;).


JAL

[Burke]

While it could be a joke, I honestly didn't mean it like that. I've loved C for a while and been on a particular kick of it as of late, so it was the first thing that came to mind.

Yeah, but, come on, this is a language forum, not a programmer's forum, so you kinda failed the Turing test here .

If it's not you're type, then I guess I can cast for here

I've been on a stint for Mandarin for a while, but the main reason I'm learning it is to bug the hell out of my classmates. It's really challenging but very very fun.

[clawgrip]

Favourite non-video game: Desert Bus

How's that not a video game?


JAL

It as much a non-video game as a video game can possibly be.

[jal]

It as much a non-video game as a video game can possibly be.

Yeah, but it's still a video game :).


JAL

[Burke]

Clawgrip got my intent on that one. I find the notion of that game pretty funny in itself.

[alynnidalar]

It as much a non-video game as a video game can possibly be.

Yeah, but it's still a video game .

"Video", yes, but I remain unconvinced on the "game" part. "Esoteric torture device" seems to fit better.

[Burke]

It as much a non-video game as a video game can possibly be.

Yeah, but it's still a video game .

"Video", yes, but I remain unconvinced on the "game" part. "Esoteric torture device" seems to fit better.

Some people like that kind of "game"

[treskro]

Basics
Username: treskro
Name: no
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): no
Birthplace: NJ, USA
Place of residence: NYC
Any particular reason you live there now?: I work here and I like urban environments
Occupation: Architecture
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): nonexistent

Identity
Gender: M
Sexuality: straight
Relationship: started one recently, kinda ambiguous atm
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Han Chinese (by way of Taiwan - Hoklo)
Religion: Atheist
Politics: lefty left

Measurements
Age: 23
Height: 5'10
Weight: 140
Shoe size: 9.5
Blood type: O
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English (native fluency), Mandarin (partial heritage fluency)
Other languages: French (low conversational), Japanese (low conversational), Taiwanese Hokkien/Minnan (minimal heritage fluency), Italian (basic)
Your conlangs: Dibrixhian, Sydunam, Proto-Vdangku (and children), Cednitit (Akana relay)
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Kanienkeha:ka, Arabic, Cantonese

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Mandarin
Favourite colour: yellow
Favourite food: pizza
Favourite drink: assam black tea
Favourite animal: humans
Favourite sport: biking
Favourite book: LoTR
Favourite movie: The Incredibles
Favourite video game: I play Civ5 and Age of Mythology in equal amounts
Favourite non-video game: Pictionary

[dhok]

Basics
Username: dhok
Name: an unusual one I'd rather not divulge
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): none
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Place of residence: St. Petersburg, Russia
Any particular reason you live there now?: I am studying abroad here.
Occupation: Undergraduate
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): two Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Identity
Gender: male
Sexuality: straight
Relationship: sort of in a semi-serious long-distance thing, it's complicated
Nationality: Murrica
Ethnicity: equal parts Norwegian and WASP
Religion: agnostic crypto-Catholic
Politics: center-left with a strong elitist and reactionary streak

Measurements
Age: 21 in two days
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 150 lbs
Shoe size: 11.5
Blood type: no idea
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: Portuguese and Russian (quite good), Latin and Ancient Greek (can read), Persian (learning), Finnish (heavily neglected)
Your conlangs: shit Algonquian, shit Muskogean, several a posteriori languages
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: all of them, esp. those of North America

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: the Algonquian family
Favourite colour: cerulean
Favourite food: khachapuri
Favourite drink: Belhaven stout
Favourite animal: puppies
Favourite sport: biking, cricket
Favourite book: Os Maias by Eça de Queirós
Favourite movie: I don't watch them very much
Favourite video game: Civ V, Dwarf Fortress
Favourite non-video game: Diplomacy

[kuroda]

Belatedly...

Basics
Username: Mr. Obvious? Or is it Mr. Redundancy Man? I forget already.
Name: On the internet, the username is a name I use.
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): Yes.
Birthplace: Not certain.
Place of residence: USA, Pacific Northwest
Any particular reason you live there now? Tolerable climate, no passport, and habit.
Occupation: Unemployed, and probably unemployable at this point. Manual labor, government, labor organizing, social work, medical research, environmental science at various points.
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): None at the moment.

Identity (Only this section identifies me? OK.)
Gender Sex: Female
Sexuality: Homo
Relationship: Nope
Nationality: According to me and most sane people, USA.
Ethnicity: According to me and most people outside the USA, American.
Religion: No.
Politics: Marxist, eclectically.

Measurements (Non-identifying!!!)
Age: 49
Height: Maybe 5'10-11" now? I think I'm starting to shrink as my back goes.
Weight: No idea, but for the last couple years, surely in the obese category.
Shoe size: American 10
Blood type: O
Handedness: Left. Nearly cripplingly so; I've had trouble using doorknobs correctly with my right hand.

Languages (including level of fluency!) (Not part of identity!)
Native language(s): Not certain; probably Chinese, maybe English.
Other languages: More and more, I think "no languages at all". I've studied/worked or lived in/worked on/worked with Evenki, French and German (only as tool languages in academe), Japanese, Kiksht, Lushootseed (and another Salishan language I'd rather not name), Manchu, Mongolian, Nahuatl, Nanai, Russian, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Tsolyani in the past.
Your conlangs: Not for ages, and only a few in all; they were all a posteriori, and mostly in the spirit of bogolangs and the League of Lost Languages, but back before those were 'things'.
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Georgian (tried working through textbooks, stalled out) and languages of the Caucasus in general; other languages of the PNW coastal area; Chagatai and Sakha (for different reasons/in different ways, just grouping them together here as Turkic); Ainu, Nivkh, and Itelmen.

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Manchu. "It's Mongol for dummies", as the saying goes.
Favourite colour: Gray. It's cool.
Favourite food: Curry rice, maybe.
Favourite drink: Cheap generic tea? Or just water.
Favourite animal: Otters on land, octopus in the water, crows in the air.
Favourite sport: The one currently not being discussed.
Favourite book: No idea. It's like choosing which is my favorite way to climb stairs.
Favourite movie: Hard to say. The one I most like getting people to watch, so they look down on me more and feel assaulted by stupidity, is probably Straight To Hell. I like it. It has Courtney Love blowing Joe Strummer away with a shotgun; what's not to like?
Favourite video game: At the moment, and I guess kind of by default (not really being into games much), Crusader Kings II. Yes, it's all about the kinds of stuff I despise. I suck, y'know?
Favourite non-video game: Can't really think of one.

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse.
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to?

[Vijay]

Favourite language: Manchu. "It's Mongol for dummies", as the saying goes.

This reminded me that recently, I noted to myself that Swahili is basically "Bantu for Dummies."

[jmcd]

Favourite video game: At the moment, and I guess kind of by default (not really being into games much), Crusader Kings II. Yes, it's all about the kinds of stuff I despise. I suck, y'know?

I love that game too, too much so that I deleted it (though kept the files including my awesome France game that started out as an Earl in the Hebrides. Also, my family members have like Aquitaine, HRE, Scotland, Ireland and England IIRC). Same goes for EU3 and Vic2. I've played more often EU3 but I think there's a lot more exploring that could be done in CK2.

Also mmm curry.

[kuroda]

This reminded me that recently, I noted to myself that Swahili is basically "Bantu for Dummies."

I think that's not wholly a coincidence; they formed up as languages in what can be seen as similar sociocultural (and economic) environments: a lot of ethnic mixing, high mobilization for long-distance trade/war, widespread and multilingualism, I'd guess. It's not like they're creole languages or anything like that, but the kind of sharp stirring and gelling they got is kind of interesting (IMO).

I love that game too, too much so that I deleted it (though kept the files including my awesome France game that started out as an Earl in the Hebrides. Also, my family members have like Aquitaine, HRE, Scotland, Ireland and England IIRC). Same goes for EU3 and Vic2. I've played more often EU3 but I think there's a lot more exploring that could be done in CK2.

Also mmm curry.

I really enjoy the dynastic dynamics driving CK2 over what EU & Vic are "about", but do often wish you could go a little farther off the map! Though I reckon they're already stretching the feudal/dynastic game engine past the bounds of plausibility already...

My greatest hour(s, and hours, and hours) was starting off as a minor wali in northern Spain and ending up with a 90%+ Basque sultanate of Iberia.

Pot is legal where I live, but instead I just open up a brick of Vermont(tm) brand curry and take big whiffs off it to get high.

[opipik]

Username: opipik
Name:
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): None
Birthplace: Czech Republic
Place of residence: Czech Republic
Any particular reason you live there now?
Occupation:
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): I have a cat

Gender: male
Sexuality:
Relationship: none
Nationality: obvious
Ethnicity: -||-
Religion: none
Politics:

Age:
Height:
Weight:
Shoe size:
Blood type: I don't know
Handedness: Left

Native language(s): Czech
Other languages: English, Russian
Your conlangs: "Pijin", Proto-Kangthang, Proto-Kuruk and a bunch of other unnamed sketches
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once:

Favourite language: Probably Konai
Favourite colour: none
Favourite food: none
Favourite drink: Water
Favourite animal: none
Favourite sport: I don't like sport.
Favourite book:
Favourite movie:
Favourite video game:
Favourite non-video game:

1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse.
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to?

[Frislander]

Basics
Username: Frislander
Name: Do I have to say?
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): None that I know of
Birthplace: Hexham
Place of residence: A small town south of Middlesborough
Any particular reason you live there now? It's where my dad was posted when we last moved
Occupation: Still in school
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): Several kinds of fish in two tanks

Identity
Gender: male
Sexuality: straight, though I probably would be OK with men as well
Relationship: none
Nationality: Northern first, British second
Ethnicity: White British
Religion: Church of England (high-church), though I will participate in Catholic or Methodist services willingly
Politics: Left-leaning with a strong dislike of neo-liberalism (as prompted by my faith)

Measurements
Age: 16
Height: almost 6ft
Weight: about 12 stone
Shoe size: been ages since I was last measured
Blood type: don't know, though my mother is B+, I seem to remember
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: French (haven't looked at since I did my GCSE and don't want to), German (could probably hold a minimal conversation in an emergency, and have basic reading skills, but need to keep working on), Latin (loved to bits and could probably read fairly fluently, but you don't really learn to speak it)
Your conlangs: Frislandian, plus several more which are currently in development, plus way too many I have discarded over the years.
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: I'd say I'm interested in ad have read about most things and I have trouble focusing on one thing in particular, but a few ones which I have especially looked at include Yimas, Tlingit, Southern Wakashan, Ryukyuan languages, Ainu, Munda and rGyalrongic for natlangs, and Old Skourene, Kebreni, Most Akana-langs, Kahtsaai, Novegradian, Alashian and Očets for conlangs.

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Love them all (unless they come from Africa)
Favourite colour: Probably blue
Favourite food: Can't say
Favourite drink: Ditto
Favourite animal: Ditto again
Favourite sport: Don't care for sport
Favourite book: I really don't do favourites
Favourite movie: Nope
Favourite video game: Don't play many, and my computer would probably kill me if I tried
Favourite non-video game: Possibly Discworld: Ankh-Morpok

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse.
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? Probably the Pit Rivers museum in Oxford

[jal]

Shoe size: been ages since I was last measured

But, but... You need shoes right? Or have you been wearing the same shoes since the same ages? Also, you're 16, you can't have had the same shoe size for ages!


JAL

[mèþru]

Shoe size: been ages since I was last measured

But, but... You need shoes right? Or have you been wearing the same shoes since the same ages? Also, you're 16, you can't have had the same shoe size for ages!


JAL

Early growth spurt?

[Frislander]

Shoe size: been ages since I was last measured

But, but... You need shoes right? Or have you been wearing the same shoes since the same ages? Also, you're 16, you can't have had the same shoe size for ages!

JAL

Early growth spurt?

Actually that's how it turned out. I remember one time when we were talking with someone in Durham Cathedral and my parents asked her to guess how old I was. She started by saying that I couldn't possibly be 13, and my parents immediately burst out laughing because I was.

Also, in the UK there are 2-3 shoe size systems: the first is used for small children and goes up to 13. Then you go back to 1 again and go up to about 10 for people older than that, and some shoe manufacturers seem to use the European system (I think that's what it is; it goes into the 50s, I think). It's all very confusing and I really can't tell which one I am. I've just now looked at one of my pairs of shoes and it says 8-and-a-half, but apparently even that's not indicative of your actual shoe size.

[jal]

seem to use the European system (I think that's what it is; it goes into the 50s, I think).

I'm not sure about other countries, but in the Netherlands, show sizes go up to about 46 or 47 for men (42-43 for women). If you have larger feet, you typically need to go to special stores with limited choice.


JAL

[sangi39]

Basics
Username: Sangi39
Name: Marc
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): Lord of the Midnight Striptease (drunkenness and sleep after a Lacuna Coil gig), Spar Jesus (long hair, moustache, beard, work in a Spar shop) and Hubby, by my ex-wife's best friend.
Birthplace: Norwich, UK
Place of residence: North Yorkshire, UK
Any particular reason you live there now? A series of unfortunate events that led me to moving back in with family
Occupation: "Sales assistant"
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): A own a nine-year-old Bearded Dragon called His Holiness (or Benny for short) and two-year-old Royal Python called Svafnir.

More: show

His Holiness:





Svafnir:

Identity
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual
Relationship: Single
Nationality: British
Ethnicity: White
Religion: None
Politics: More or less a democratic socialist.

Measurements
Age: 26
Height: 5'6" / 167.64cm
Weight: 15st / 210lbs / 95.25 kg
Shoe size: UK 9 / EU 43 / US 10
Blood type: O+
Handedness: Right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: Introductory level understanding of German and Russian (mostly through lack of practice since GCSE) and I'm currently (and slowly) trying to learn Icelandic. After that it's all a cursory understanding of phonology and morphology of a handful of languages but no retention of syntax or vocabulary.
Your conlangs: Proto-Sirdic, Proto-Skawlas, Lesi Kirra and few others in the works, but nothing much overall.
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: I found Novegradian and Alashian quite interesting, but mostly look at them as a kind of "oo, look what you can do" sort of thing.

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Ooo, right now, Icelandic.
Favourite colour: Black
Favourite food: House Special Fried Rice from the Chinese take away one town over.
Favourite drink: Pepsi Max
Favourite animal: My snake at the moment
Favourite sport: Rugby
Favourite book: Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (I have a lot of time for Death)
Favourite movie: Serenity
Favourite video game: Medieval II: Total War
Favourite non-video game: Cards Against Humanity

[Ziz]

Basics
Username: Ziz
Name: Andy
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): Seajay
Birthplace: Florida, USA
Place of residence: Central District, Israel → Washington (State), USA
Any particular reason you live there now? I took a year off to teach English abroad. → I'm going to grad school there.
Occupation: English teacher → grad student
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence):

Identity
Gender: male
Sexuality: gay
Relationship: yes (with an Israeli, and hopefully continuing after I leave)
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: European American (Celto-Germanic)
Religion: Jewishly atheist
Politics: American moderate left / Israeli center left

Measurements
Age: 22
Height: 5'8 (173 in tedious cm)
Weight: 155 lbs (70 in tedious kg)
Shoe size: 9 (42 in tedious European sizes)
Blood type: O+
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: Hebrew (B2), Spanish (B2), Portuguese (B1), French (B1), Yiddish (B1), Persian (A2), several others at A1
Your conlangs: many half-starts and aborted attempts
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Mayan, Ancient Egyptian, Southern Bantu, Welsh, Mandarin, most classical languages

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Hebrew
Favourite colour: blue
Favourite food: chocolate
Favourite drink: white wine
Favourite animal: cats
Favourite sport: sports are tedious
Favourite book: don't know
Favourite movie: can't think of one
Favourite video game: Pokémon
Favourite non-video game: games are tedious, maybe something with drinking involved

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse. this one
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? UK