I can’t believe nobody has done this list yet. I mean, there is one about names, one about time and many others on other topics, but not one about languages yet (except one honorable mention that comes close). So, here’s my attempt to list all the misconceptions and prejudices I’ve come across in the course of my long and illustrious career in software localisation and language technology. Enjoy – and send me your own ones!
Well, I only know of two off the top of my head, but I really doubt they’re the only examples: Irish and Mandarin Chinese.
I think some Irish don’t even habitually use them when speaking English. If you ask them “Are you ok?” they’d answer “I am” or “I am not.”