Now that I have migrated to an e-mail client (instead of replying to mails online), I can actually try replying in-line. :)

So I've been thinking. Why does Commons based project worked for
Philippines and not so much for Indonesia. I dare say it worked for
Hong Kong and India too. And then I remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTlhuokVDs

That is Wikimedia Italy "how to" and "what is" video and it hit me
that they already localized everything, up to content, to Italian
language. Now Philippines and Hong Kong are more "English" than the
rest of Asia, India maybe somewhere in there too. Indonesia is not, I
doubt Thailand, Bangladesh, Vietnam were far off from Indonesia
situation.

Actually, we're (arguably) more American than British. :P

As far as I know, while the interface may have helped in Wikipedia Takes Manila, I doubt the language is the only factor in this.  In fact, several software packages related to MediaWiki have equivalent Tagalog/Filipino versions, and while we'd like to use them, the situation would be the opposite of Indonesia: a Tagalog interface would be harder to understand than an English interface.

However, I think language is neutral on this thing, and at any rate the software can be translated into Indonesian (or any other language for that matter) if need be.  I will agree though: translation is one thing, but localization is another.  Much of Commons is unavailable in Philippine languages other than the Main Page, and I think that's the sad reality people back home face.

If we (Indonesian) are to do "wiki loves free copyright pictures taken
here and there" - with an English infrastructure Commons, I need to
aim B level society (this is advertising code for middle class to
upper class economy) that understand English. Here's the problem,
although a lot of them are equipped with fancy camera, they usually
don't want to release it under a free license since they consider
themselves "pro" (although most of the time it is arguable).

An excited supporter would be a C level (students etc) which need an
Indonesian language infrastructure commons, up to, it's how to cartoon
in the beginning of uploading page:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:UploadWizard

So regardless monument or not, taken pictures effort would be more
successful effort if commons localized (localized! Not just translated
- see monalisa picture to most of Indonesian it will not fly) -  it's
instruction in basic Asian language.

WLM does not use the standard uploading interface, as far as I remember.  Maybe the organizers of the European competitions know something about this, but then again, they're not on this list. :P

But as I said earlier, localization is another matter altogether.  The question now is whether or not localization is a strong guarantor of a project's success.

Regards,

Josh

JAMES JOSHUA G. LIM
Class of 2013, AB Political Science
Ateneo de Manila University
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Vice-President, Wikimedia Philippines
Member, Ateneo Debate Society
Member, The Assembly
Member, Ateneo Lingua Ars Cultura

jamesjoshualim@yahoo.com | +63 (927) 531-8301
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