University of Alberta doctoral candidate asked to resubmit thesis after inclusion of Arabic script

That's a yikes.

 

I read the actual article. It says the university rejected it because it did not conform to formatting requirements.

Assuming they're not singling her out because she used Arabic (as opposed to, say, Japanese), I can see their point. They supervise work done in English, not Arabic. It is not reasonable to expect that a reviewer would be able to read it, even though it purports to be just her name.

On the other hand, it would be cool to allow every candidate to do what she did, provide her name written in her native language and an English translation underneath.

One thing that should be avoided is some notion that she is entitled to this. She is not. While she's the writer, the university is the publisher. As such, they make the final editorial call, just as any other form of publisher.

I'm all for it. May I use Scottish Gaelic or Middle English on my next one?

 

Not with you, on this one, Maniac. I'm with Sarah. I think having to remove it means exactly what she says it means. The requirement to remove that script is totally wrong. Have a ball on your island, though.

Below: "These letters are beautiful." Arabic script, used in Urdu, as Sarah is from Pakistan. She has my deepest respect.
یہ خطوط خوبصورت ہیں۔

 

Steve, you took the trouble to address the first part of my post, but ignored the second where I agree with your point, that it would be cool to allow candidates to do it.

 

What particularly dismays me is that this occurred here in Canada. That's not what my Canada is about. I don't think it's Justin's idea of his Canada either. Maybe I should ask him. Seriously.

 

Yes, I probably should. But Justin...?

 

This is a sad situation.

I included two Patois phrases in my dissertation (at the bottom of the Dedication page and the bottom of the Acknowledgment page). I'm sure my Committee couldn't understand it, but no one asked me to remove it.

 

This reminds me that a woman born in France, educated to the Bachelor's degree level in France, in French, came to Quebec to do her PhD. She completed that PhD and it was accepted by the university. One of the 5 chapters was written in English, because it was published in an English-language journal. The school accepted that. The Quebec Immigration Ministry decided that was proof she did not have sufficient command of French and denied her immigration. (She also completed a test of French-language proficiency in her immigration journey, but that wasn't enough.)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/french-thesis-immigration-caq-1.5351155

 

I am sadly not if the view it had anything to do with formatting, it is however very "on script" for Alberta.

Saying as a Canadian.

 

...Q...Q...Quoi? Immigration Ministry? Should a province have one? Québec is still "La Belle Province," not "Le Beau Pays," n'est-ce pas? Au moins, pas encore. (At least, not yet.)

Sounds like the same Language Gestapo (or were they Stasi?) that sent officers into Montreal's Chinatown with orders to remove all Chinese-language signs. Thankfully, that turned out to be a non-starter. Québec is a wonderful and lively province - and I've always been well-treated there, but things like this... que c'est affreux! (How awful!)

 

Surprisingly the BBC has better background on this particular wrinkle than the CBC:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50241254

I like learning French, it's a beautiful language and the Quebecers deserve to have their unique place in Canada protected and respected but sometimes it veers into the nonsensical (like the case above or this one where they tried to ban pasta from an Italian restaurant's menu: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/01/quebec-language-police-ban-pasta)

 

Dustin quoted: "Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with Canada's federal government and has broad powers in the selection of immigrants. A potential immigrant must obtain a "selection certificate" from the province before they can apply for permanent residence with the federal government."

So, in this case you need Provincial approval to apply for a Federal status? And here I thought that all Canadians were equal under the law... Je suis très déçu! (I am very disappointed.)

 

Okay, but that guy doesn't send me money. Justin sends me lots - why, today he bought me a brand-new sewing machine. He's bought me 5 of my 8 guitars, paid for my fashion course, even enabled me to make charitable donations... all from those "extras." It's like a series of lottery wins!

I must confess - I do NOT know those guys in the picture. Who are they? You're talking to a guy who shut off his TV years ago and hasn't been to a movie theatre in over 20 years. A "Netflix Virgin!"