ALTAlk

An email list for ALTA members was created in November 2004. Now in February, 2005, there are 79 members on the mailing list. To subscribe to the list, visit this web site: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/ALTAlk.

Once you are signed up, you can see archived messages and other information here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ALTAlk/.

So far on the list there have been lots of interesting messages from the ALTA community. We've had:

- introductions
- questions about copyright and fair use
- requests for mentors and advice
- announcements about new publications
- the formation of working groups in New York and other cities
- a playful discussion of translating the place name "Las Vegas"
- questions and info on chatushki (short satirical Russian folk songs)
- political implications of transliteration choices for geographic names

The list has put people in touch with each other. It is nice to have instant feedback on professional questions and even on the meanings of specific words in various languages. I think it will grow to be a useful resource!

"Caveat Subscriptor"

To minimize the impact of the ads in email messages, list members should go to their membership page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ALTAlk/join and set "message format" to "Do not convert to HTML".

If you get too many emails, you can choose to receive the emails all together as a single daily digest. Or you can opt to receive no emails, and instead, visit the list's web archive to read the messages.

Net etiquette demands that if you reply to a message:

- Consider whether the message should go to the whole list, or just one person. Would many people be interested in your reply?

- If you include the original message in your reply, delete unnecessary lines so that people don't have to wade through screens full of text. Just include the original sender's name or email and a few lines that you're responding to. All 79 of the list members will appreciate it.

Liz Henry
(With input from Nancy Festinger)