On Wednesday, December 28, 2011 1:23 AM Carol Moore <carolmooredc(a)verizon.net>
wrote:
"No matter what the main language of the Wikimedia foundation - and who knows what it
might be 50 years from now - finding ways to more actively get non-main language speakers
involved is necessary. Other ways to do that would be to make sure Wikipedia has a number
of employees who speak fluently at least 2 or 3 of the top 5 to 10 languages worldwide. It
probably has some already."
Language is a generic challenge across the global Wikimedia movement in all its facets
including of course the cultural aspects that lend themselves to meaning and
understanding. However just focusing on the different languages and the challenge that
presents is really interesting. I'd like for instance to allocate into my interactive
wikimedia life some time to familiarise myself with other languages, and so I'd like
to ask if anyone might have a good idea, on how we who sit at the beckoned call of our
computers, can use the technology to assist in the familiarisation and take up of any one
or other of the those top 5 to 10 languages. For instance, I use for the French language,
french.about.com, it is free on line. The 'about.com' language system is from
English to French, to German, to Italian, to Japanese, to Mandarin and to Spanish. There
may be more. I don't know if it works the other way around, it probably does. That is,
Spanish to English, to German, and etc. Does anyone know of a better on line system to
use. Also does anybody know of a good 'parsing' software that can be obtained.
Cheers,
Anne
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol Moore
To: Increasing female participation in Wikimedia projects
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 1:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Gendergap] possible resolution... article differentials/unnecessary drama
On 12/26/2011 10:42 PM, Laura Hale wrote:
On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 2:31 PM, Carol Moore <carolmooredc(a)verizon.net> wrote:
If the main problem here is the emphasis on English language solutions
and the mention of problems with articles that only concern
En.wikipedia, perhaps those speaking other languages could generate
proposals on any relevant lists and then bring them here or to the
relevant wikimedia pages or other forums or individuals,
whatever/whoever they might be.
Ah! This sounds brilliant! Will this also apply to English speakers from the United
States and United Kingdom? These individuals can speak to those in their national
communities, generate relevant proposals on relevant lists (WM-DC, WM-NYC, the American
cultures list) and bring them here or to the relevant Wikimedia pages, or other forums or
individuals, whatever/whoever they might be?
This seems like an unfair burden to place on men and women in our community from
outside the United States and United Kingdom. You're proposing barriers to entry and
participation for potentially valuable contributors. Is this list only intended for
Americans and Poms?
First, I'm not sure IF language is the Main problem. Just got that impression from
one or two posts.
No matter what the main language of the Wikimedia foundation - and who knows what it
might be 50 years from now - finding ways to more actively get non-main language speakers
involved is necessary. Other ways to do that would be to make sure Wikipedia has a number
of employees who speak fluently at least 2 or 3 of the top 5 to 10 languages worldwide. It
probably has some already.
Another potential one is messages can be posted to lists like this in several languages
at once so everyone can understand them - instant translation software? Though of course
that too could have it's problems.
But I do think a viable way is just making sure editors have a formal place to discuss
issues and alternatives in own their language. Then individuals or representatives or both
can bring these to English speakers where ever relevant.
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