Sept. 3, 2011
11:51 a.m.
This is a PS to my previous note in this thread and I hope it's spotted before anyone pounces on me for the slip I'm now correcting --
'æ' is an atomic element of the Norwegian alphabet (and others) and any suggestion that the VIP study might make of need for its canonical equation to 'ae' would be met with a dismissive giggle at best, and taken as sheer cultural effrontery at worst. In either case, it would risk our output being disregarded.
The reaction would be within the language communities to which the distinction is important. I'm not predicting global response to this particular case, although corresponding risk does exist elsewhere and could be similarly illustrated. /Cary