[Wikipedia-l] Re: Re: new request for ASL/English wikipedia

[Gerard Meijssen]

Alphax wrote:

>Mark Williamson wrote:
>  
>
>>On 12/09/05, Phil Boswell <phil.boswell at gmail.com> wrote:
>>    
>>
><snip>
>  
>
>>>I can see very little difference between providing
>>>[[en:Wikipedia:Spoken Wikipedia]] for those who have a problem with
>>>their sight and providing [[en:Wikipedia:Signed Wikipedia]] for
>>>those who have a problem with their hearing.
>>>
>>>If the idea takes off and a great many articles are converted into
>>>Sign Language, and someone comes up with a brilliant way of editing
>>>Sign Language in a wiki-like manner, then this material could be
>>>used to jump-start a new Wikipedia.
>>>
>>>It seems to me that we could get a great deal done using the
>>>material we already have, rather than waiting for the requisite
>>>wheel to be invented.
>>>
>>>I sit ready to be corrected, of course, and I await developments
>>>eagerly.
>>>      
>>>
>>Again, there are many different mutually incomprehensible signed 
>>languages. Countries where English is the primary language don't all 
>>have the same signed language (British sign language is not even 
>>related to American sign language), and American Sign Language is
>>also used in countries where English is NOT the primary language
>>(most notably in parts of Mexico).
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>    
>>
>
>It sounds an awful lot to me like sign language is an othorgraphy, not a
>distinct language. Having "American sign language" to the exclusion of
>Auslan, British sign language, et. al. is incredibly US-centric.
>
>Can I ask just one question: how many deaf people with Internet access
>are illiterate in whatever the audible version of their language is?
>Any? Are there any websites which are "written" in sign language?
>
>Until these questions are answered, I don't see why (or indeed *how*)
>Sign Language Wikipedias can exist.
>
Hoi,
There is no "audible" version of a sign language. With an ASL wiki there 
is also room for wikis for the other sign languages.
Thanks,
    GerardM