Nostr

I am looking for suggestions to help people describe how to say their name on Nostr.

More specifically, I am trying to find a way to translate names between languages that don't share the same alphabet (Mandarin to Latin, Hindi to Arabic, etc) and thus it's impossible for the reader to know how to say a name.

Do we place an audio recording at the User Metadata level? Maybe there is some phonetic way to describe people's names? Do we just add alternative writings for Display Name? How many? And how would the app know which one to select to display?

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Discussion

freeborn | ἐλεύθερος | 8r0gwg 2y ago

Audio on a pinned note

Princedede 2y ago

Maybe add an audio feature at users profile.

Princedede 2y ago

The audio will be a recorded voice pronunciation of the users name.

Gary ₿usey 2y ago

Could accents become a potential issue with that, though?

Gary ₿usey 2y ago

Actually nevermind. That's a stupid question.

Princedede 2y ago

It's actually an OK question. People would definitely pronounce with their local accent.

Princedede 2y ago

Well, maybe, but at least you got to hear the right pronunciation 😄.

Mallory 2y ago

Couldn’t you just use the International Phonetic Alphabet?

Vitor Pamplona 2y ago

How well can people describe their own names in that?

Or is there an automatic translator from every language into the phonetic alphabet?

Princedede 2y ago

The thing is, when it comes to names, you can't use international phonetics because pronunciation and characters don't go hand in hand in different languages. So it's better to have an audio note where everyone record a short pronunciation of their names in their local dialects.

Mallory 2y ago

A voice note would also be simpler because not everyone knows how to read IPA. I know sometimes I look at a phonetic spelling and am like what!?

Princedede 2y ago

Agree!

Adarnit 2y ago

It could be a link to a voice recording that is uploaded to, say, nostr.build and you put the link in a new option in the user profile form. Kind of how how the profile pic and banner are url links

iefan 🕊️ 2y ago

I don't know the solution but it's definitely a problem, no one gets my name right, it's ok tho 😅😂

Gary ₿usey 2y ago

Guilty. I'm still not sure how to pronounce it. Sorry. 😏

iefan 🕊️ 2y ago

🤙

nothenry 2y ago

Audio file as metadata

Nosnevets 2y ago

Wow I love this.

I was always a fan of asking foreign friends to teach me how to say their name and at least one word of not more in their language.

I never understood why we make up names for other countries and ultires when they use completely different words for it.

Why is it Germany when they say Deutschland???

Cpt. Charisma 2y ago

Lojban (j/k)

Looks like this problems has been solved quite a few times. Here are some options:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaypYu

https://navlipi.org/

https://omniglot.com/conscripts/phonetic.htm (tons of options here)

The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from!