Re: [soac-newgtldapsup-wg] My comments on the draft final report

[Eric Brunner-Williams <ebw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alex,

There is one point overlooked in the ccTLD IDN FastTrack approach that 
should not be repeated.
Many languages which are "lesser taught" or "minority" or "endangered" 
or ... use Latin script -- decorated (with diacritical marks), but 
still, extended Latin script. E.g., macrons and Maori (New Zealand / 
Aotearoa).
Additionally, we can look past "script" to language.

Is it likely that an application for a string in the Hebrew script, 
for a Hebrew word, will qualify? The (pick your preference) {Zionist 
Entity, Jewish State, State of Israel} is not what is meant by 
"developing state". Nor is Hebrew a lesser taught" or "minority" or 
"endangered" language in the (pick your preference) territory 
associated with the .il country code (or the .ps country code for that 
matter).
Would an application for a string in the same script, for a Yiddish 
word, a language with no protected status in any state other than 
Sweden (that I'm aware of, corrections welcome), assuming 
qualification on the basis of need, also qualify for the corresponding 
Latin string?
I think the best answer to the Hebrew-Language via Hebrew-Script 
question is "no linguistic or cultural justification", and the best 
answer to the Yiddish-Language via Hebrew-Script question is "there 
exists linguistic or cultural justification". Again, this is 
independent of a "needs" rational.
Many language communities, even the Arabic script using communities, 
use Latin script, either as a means of accommodation to print media, 
or to keyboard limitations (see Arabic Chat Script).
Is our policy that need is sufficiently met by mono-script, and 
mono-language assistance, or do we recognize that need exists for 
several strings, in one or more scripts, to fully meet the diversity 
goal and avoid promotion of less diversity than actually exists within 
linguistic and cultural communities?
All of the indigenous languages of the Americas, with two exceptions, 
Tsalagi (Cherokee) and Northern Cree/Dene/Innu/Innuktitut (a grouping 
of distinct languages in distinct language families created by the 
introduction of "speedwriting" (Gregg Shorthand (tm)), now 
standardized as Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics (CAS), aka "Cree 
Syllabics", are written in decorated Latin script, as are Tsalagi and 
each of the Northern Languages which also use CAS.
Because of the "developing countries" characterization, I don't assume 
that applications brought by indigenous applicants will qualify for 
any assistance. There is also the "all indians are rich because of 
casinos cartoon" to overcome. However, I expect that there are 
numerous languages with use decorated Latin script and for which the 
string in the non-Latin language, _and_ a string in the locally 
dominant Latin language, form a necessary pair.
I agree, this is a "digital divide" issue, and I thank everyone for 
their patience.
Eric