<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Bruce, </div><div><br></div><div>I think your summary is quite correct. And the shortest answer to your question is probably "we don't know either". At the moment, as you're probably aware Wikimedia AU is still in its nascent stage and as I see it (others please correct me if you disagree) we are kicking around some ideas as to what we should/could do. Some of these ideas include working with university societies to gain exposure on campuses whilst others - such as this one - involve working in one way or another with Aboriginal communities with specific focus on Aboriginal language preservation/digitisation/usage. </div><div><br></div><div>I personally don't think that wikimedia AU is ready to set out on any formal project of this type at this stage. If anything, I imagine that this kind of project would begin on the basis of one or two individuals getting involved on behalf of WM-AU and it might grow from there to be something more formal. What these people might do is quite varied and would probably be a factor of their particular interests/experiences. This could include oral history transcription for Source, creating media files for Commons, creating mapping data for OpenStreetMap, writing articles on en-wikipedia about topics relevant to that community...</div><div><br></div><div>It looks like YOU are in fact one of the better placed people to advise US on what could/should be done. Perhaps it might be possible for some form of scholarship from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies to send a wikipedian to live there for a few weeks/months to help out. Again, this is just me kicking ideas around...</div><div><br></div><div>Basically, at this stage, you know just as much as we do (again, others, please correct me if I'm wrong) and probably more. Maybe you could suggest an existing project some individuals might be able to join in on and give it a wiki spin. </div><div><br></div><div>-Liam</div><div><br></div><div>www.wikipediaweely.org</div><div>Skype - Wittylama</div><div>Wikipedia - [[User:Witty lama]]</div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br><div><div>On 03/08/2008, at 12:45 PM, Bruce White wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>Liam</div> <div> </div> <div>Please forgive my Wikimeida ignorance, lack of familiarity ... I have some interest in these kinds of matters (particular with a North Queensland focus):</div> <div> </div> <div>1. I see some wikimedia-AU members are looking for/ and suggesting an Aboriginal language type project for wikimedia-AU (in this UN International Year of languages)?</div> <div> </div> <div>2. I see it has been suggested that some language and other expertise, aside from wiki skills and committment, will be necessary .. and, therefore, possible partner/s found to be able to engage i a project of this kind??</div> <div> </div> <div>[There are Aboriginal langauge groups - as part of an Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies and other's program - within North Queensland who are actively working to record, transmit, and/or revive langauges .. which may also be interested in participating .. Similarly, the Queensland State Library has been actively involved in establishing what they call Knowledge Centres within Aboriginal communities providing computer etc facilities for people to particularly store/use local knowledges (including languages)]</div> <div> </div> <div>3. I see that people have ideas and/or may be identifying Aboriginal language communities with whom such project may be usefully undertaken</div> <div> </div> <div>[There are also Aboriginal langauges and/or creols still spoken in the North Queensland/Cape York areas .. which might also stand to benefit?]</div> <div> </div> <div>What I don't quite understand, and can't imagine .. is what, exactly, it is that wikimedia-AU may be offering?? </div> <div> </div> <div>I have been a Wikipedia editor .. and have some familiarity as to the uses to which that particular Wiki are put .. but I don't really understand what it is you/others are actually suggesting/offering .. that might serve, so usefully, to help people record/preserve/use other languages .... </div> <div> </div> <div>I guess, from what you're saying, it may not be just another language equivalent to Wikipedia .. within which people might be expected to start creating articles / dictionaries in local languages, also recording ??</div> <div> </div> <div>It would be greatly appreciated if you were able to point me in the right direction and/or just help me better understand the possibilities and potential of what is being suggested. It may be that I am able to do a little to faciliate and assist from up this way .. if it is truly practical and useful </div> <div> </div> <div>(At present, I believe, people up this way (with Cwlth Natural Resource Management support), who may be using computers to assist record, arrange etc languages .. are using various purpose designed databases, with their own servers & storage, and, for some, internet browser access strcitly restricted to pre-approved account holders ..??)</div> <div> </div> <div>Again .. I am interest .. but don't really understand/ can't really imagine .. if you/anyone might be able to help/point me in the right direction</div> <div> </div> <div>With thanks and regards</div> <div> </div> <div>Bruce White</div> <div>(Wikipedia user name - bruceanthro)</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><br>--- On <b>Sun, 8/3/08, Liam Wyatt <i><<a href="mailto:liamwyatt@gmail.com">liamwyatt@gmail.com</a>></i></b> wrote:<br></div> <blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Liam Wyatt <<a href="mailto:liamwyatt@gmail.com">liamwyatt@gmail.com</a>><br>Subject: Re: [Wikimediaau-l] Aboriginal languages (reply)<br>To: "Wikimedia-au" <<a href="mailto:wikimediaau-l@lists.wikimedia.org">wikimediaau-l@lists.wikimedia.org</a>><br>Date: Sunday, August 3, 2008, 10:22 AM<br><br> <div id="yiv1587301579"> <div>Speaking of which, there was this article in today's, August 3, Sunday Herald in Sydney (and presumably syndicated in other Fairfax papers):</div> <div>"Ancient Path to Universal Knowledge" by Sarah Price</div> <div><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ancient-path-to-universal-language/2008/08/02/1217097610608.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ancient-path-to-universal-language/2008/08/02/1217097610608.html</a></div> <div><br></div> <div>I describes a programme by the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation <a href="http://www.alnf.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.alnf.org</a>/ to write down what had only been oral language amongst aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory as a way of both (A) cultural preservation and (B) gaining literacy skills.</div> <div><br></div> <div>This might be exactly the kind of other organisation that Angela referred to. Those amongst us with the time and effort to set aside might be able to travel to the NT with the ALNF and participating in some way. Another option would be to simply receive a hard copy when the programme ends and transcribe their results into Wikisource (without necessarily participating in the programme itself). </div> <div>The article does not mention the internet or any technical aspect but I don't believe this is any barrier. </div> <div><br></div> <div>As I said In a previous post, I don't personally believe that even with institutional support (such as ALNF might be able to provide) that this justifies the creation of a wikiPedia edition for that particular language due to the small population size and lack of literacy in the first place (let alone internet access and learning how to use wikis). Rather, this could justify the creation of a wikiSource/wikiQuote for that language as the transcription of oral history matches these projects nicely (and we can do all the technical work for them). </div> <div><br></div> <div>Does anyone thinks this is a possible "first project" for wikimedia-AU ? </div> <div><br></div> <div>The final paragraph of the article gives us the contact:</div> <div> <div><br></div> <div>"The foundation is hosting a celebrity chef fund-raising dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney on September 20.</div> <div>You can email <a href="mailto:alnf@bigpond.net.au" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">alnf@bigpond.net.au</a> for tickets to the dinner."</div></div> <div><br></div> <div>Best, </div> <div>-Liam</div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 14px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <div> <div style="WORD-WRAP: break-word"> <div> <div style="WORD-WRAP: break-word"> <div><br></div> <div>www.wikipediaweekly.org</div> <div>Skype - Wittylama</div> <div>Wikipedia - [[User:Witty lama]]</div></div></div></div></div> <div><br></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br> <div> <div>On 31/07/2008, at 8:39 PM, Angela wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 11:16 AM, Gnangarra <<a href="mailto:gnangarra@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">gnangarra@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div> <blockquote type="cite"> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">The first question is do we have anyone with the language skills, the wiki</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">skills and the time to dedicate to getting an aboriginal language(any one of</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">them) Wikipedia up and successful.</div> <div style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px"><br></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">Literally we can could do more harm to the language, culture and WMAU</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">through ignorance and misspent good intentions.</div></blockquote> <div style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px"><br></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">We have people with the wiki skills and for the language skills, we</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">might do better to parter with another organization that does have</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">those skills. Preferably one with experience so that we can avoid the</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">potential harm you mentioned. I expect there are grants available for</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">this sort of work which is definitely something the chapter should</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">look into.</div> <div style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px"><br></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">Angela</div> <div style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px"><br></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">_______________________________________________</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px">Wikimediaau-l mailing list</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px"><a href="mailto:Wikimediaau-l@lists.wikimedia.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wikimediaau-l@lists.wikimedia.org</a></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0px"><a href="https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l</a></div></div><br></div><pre>_______________________________________________
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