"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 -----
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@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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