[Wikipedia-l] Working toward a truely multilingual Wikipedia will take time

[Daniel Mayer]

On Saturday 26 October 2002 08:57 am, Elian wrote:
> Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de> writes:
> > Besides, in both cases, I really don't see what the big deal is.
>
> The big deal is: Do you see Wikipedia as a bunch of separate language
> projects which don't need a common frontpage or do you see it as a
> multilingual united project?

We are a multilingual project, but we aren't at the "multilingual _unified_ 
project" stage yet. However, we are moving in that direction. When we do 
become such a project by combining the separate encyclopedia databases and 
wikis into one encyclopedia database and one wiki that is just organized by 
language, then it would make perfect sense to have one page for the whole 
project. A static front page for a wiki also sends the wrong message in 
general (this is different and IMO much more harmful than having a protected 
wiki front page). 

So as we continue to work on the eventual layout of a unified multilingual 
front page for the whole project and work towards a multilingual Phase IV, we 
should implement the browser language "sniffer and redirect" idea. 

The next thing we could do is enhance the language sniffer idea with the 
previous suggestion for a HTML heading frame that allows for enhanced 
interlanguage navigation for anybody entering through www.wikipedia.org.

Then by the time Phase IV rolls out we should have a pretty neat and very 
useful multilingual front page, a combined Recent Changes, search, random 
page function and login all at  www.wikipedia.org. We could even write-up a 
multilingual press release stating "Wikipedia goes fully multilingual". 

www.wikipedia.org is very important and valuable real estate. We should work 
towards the best use for it and not do anything too hastily.

Patience grasshopper.

-- Daniel Mayer (aka mav)