Internationalise the tick and cross feedback symbols

[georgestagg]

See, for example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_mark

[christianp]

The symbols are provided by the theme, so the default theme could pick the appropriate symbols based on the exam's preferred locale.

[PratikLilhare]

@christianp I am looking to contribute, shall I take this?

[christianp]

Hi @PratikLilhare, thanks for offering. Before any code gets written, I think we need to do a bit more research about what symbols are commonly used around the world. If you can come up with a list, that would be really helpful!

[ghost]

Aren't the checkmark (✅ ,✔ , or ☑) symbols already pretty internationalized or commonly understood? Same with the cross mark (❌ or ❎)...

GitHub uses green checkmarks and red crossmarks to indicate if a check has failed or run successfully. They use a yellow donut/circle to indicate in progress, and a gray circle to indicate cancelled.

Maybe borrow some ideas(?)

[christianp]

@dishb Tick and cross are indeed widely understood, but there are places where different symbols are more common, and it would be nice to support those.

[ghost]

@christianp - Gotcha 👍

[ghost]

@christianp, @georgestagg, @PratikLilhare

I did a little research, here's what I found. May not be all of the international symbols. May not be correct - derived from Wikipedia which is maintained by normal people.

Sweden - schools use the tickmark/tick/checkmark. "R" from the word rätt (Swedish) means "correct".

Finland - the tickmark/tick/checkmark indicates väärin (Finish) which means "wrong". The symbol for "correct" is: $$\cdot \/\cdot$$ It is a centered dot, followed by a "/" (forward slash) and then another centered dot.

Japan - The "O" mark is used for "correct". The tickmark/tick/checkmark and/or "X" mark are used to indicate "incorrect". A bullseye ("◎") is "excellent", triangle ("△") means "so-so" or "okay", "X" mark is used the same way the West uses it. The "hanamaru" symbol is used in Japan for full marks/score or if an answer is especially outstanding.

Korea - Seems to also use the "O" mark for "correct".

Netherlands - Uses "V" to indicate something is missing. Uses the krul (Dutch for "curl") to indicate approval. While no Unicode symbol exists for the krul, one may substitute the symbol with a German penny symbol.

Some opinions worth considering: Please note that the format is , (for example, Bill, Ireland. Ireland is location, Bill is name)

I believe that it originates from the greek language, the tick from the greek work nike (nikas) meaning to win, the greek letter N is written as a V, secondly the X from the greek word to (haneis)meaning to lose, where the greek H is written as X.

Roulla, Cyprus I taught English in South Korea and over there: O = correct and a tick = incorrect.

Bill, Ireland This does not answer the question, but I would like to point out that in my native Sweden, the 'tick' is used a the notation for an incorrect answer. A correct answer is marked with a capital 'R'.

Martin Orrbeck, Molndal, Sweden Don't know the answer, but it may be interesting to know that in Japan the symbols for correct and incorrect are a circle (maru) and a cross (batsu). No ticks.

Paul, Ashiya, Japan

Sources:

• the Dutch "krul"
• international differences in the checkmark
• Japan's system on checmarks/etc.
• hanamaru symbol and usage
• the opinions I found

[christianp]

This is really helpful information, thanks for collating it!