Talk:Glacier run

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(cur) (last)  09:57, 23 September 2005 Ferkelparade (removing some guesswork on pronounciation) 
(cur) (last)  09:50, 23 September 2005 145.64.134.241 

I give exactly what the USGS say is the pronunciation, then suggest what it might be in an unambiguous transcription system, for those readers that don't have the background to interpret what the USGS say. What's wrong with this?

Hi, welcome to Wikipedia and thanks for your contribution. The problem is exactly what I said in my edit summary - it's guesswork (you say so yourself: "what it might be in an unambiguous trascription system"), and as such not exactly encyclopedic material (I think our policy against original research applies here). Additionally, the exact pronouncitaion of the icelandic term is rather tangential to the article's topic, so I don't think we need the information in this place at all. And finally, writing in a personal, conversational style ("the writer is not familiar with...", "additional info welcome" etc.) is not appropriate for an encyclopedia article, sorry. -- Ferkelparade π 10:15, 23 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for the welcome. The USGS gives a pronunciation for the word--and usefully so, because a naive reading in English gives a very different pronunciation to a naive reading in Icelandic. Why did you take that pronunciation out of the Wikipedia article?
My IPA transcription was not original research, because it was trivial if you have the relevant background. The source material is ambiguous; explaining that an ambiguity exists and then giving the most likely interpretation of the material is entirely routine in history and in linguistics, and is as legitimate in an encyclopaedia. Cf. Francis of Assisi and the discussion of his name.
The exact pronunciation of the Icelandic term is very relevant if you want to talk about the phenomenon with an Icelander, something relatively likely given how common the phenomenon is there. Saying "giolkuhlope" will lead to stares of incomprehension.
Sure, changing the personal style was appropriate. 145.64.134.241 10:36, 23 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Okay, I don't care enough to continue the argument. If I ever meet someone who says "giolkuhlope", I'll blame Ferkelparade. Bye! 145.64.134.241 10:54, 23 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Hey, being personally responsible for funny pronounciations would be quite a life achievement :P I'm still not entirely convinced we need the pronounciation info, but I won't object if it's appropriately phrased and if the pronounciation we give is actually correct (not just "might be" :P ) -- Ferkelparade π 11:01, 23 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]