Hi there,
I havew taken the points raised so by the Committee:, which seem to be:
(1) We need an eeasy-to-operate policy (2) There needs to be an auidience and benefit to Wikimedia for the project (3) There needs to be quality control
Perhaps the way to do this, is to make it clear that the policy only adddresse Classical Languages, and to list those out. This answers the problems identified by the Commiittee in the following ways:
(1) The Committee need an eeasy-to-operate policy
It is clear which languages are Classical and they are listed in the policy.
(2) There needs to be an auidience and benefit to Wikimedia for the project
Classical languages typically have audiences with tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people who are proficient readers and a strong interest in the topic matter associated with them, be it history, theology or culturally significant works. The high level of training of Wiki participants is likely to lead to high quality information transference across language barriers, inclduing onward transfer of information to other major language wikis.
(3) There needs to be quality control
Both the high levels of tranining available in lassical Languages and the fact they have evolved mechanisms to cope without having native speakers means that quality control is very achievable, although it will need a community to apply it, just as with other Wikis.
Thus we have suggested you add the sentence:
For the purposes of this policy, Latin, Koine Greek, Classical Chinese and Sanskrit are treated as exceptions, due to their long and continuing traditions of second-language, non-native production, and communities are allowed to apply for new Wikis for these languages.
to the current language proposal policy. The suggestion is here https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Requests_for_comment/Start_allowing_ancient_...
I have also archived the material except for the two proposals ad current dfiscussions.
Hope this helps.
Jim