Mark Williamson ti 2004/11/3 EP 08:50 sia-kong:
The thing is though, it's not like I sent 20
messages in a row asking
for a Friulian Wikipedia, I wrote one, and responded to peoples
questions and objections. To not do that might seem like I no longer
want it created.
Unfortunately perception is not necessarily a rational process. Ideally
those 20 or so messages should have come from, say, a couple posters
other than yourself, of whom at least one should claim to be a
proficient speaker. (A certain moral authority is thrown in when that
proficient speaker further claims to be a native speaker, or at least
belong to the language's associated ethnicity. This appeals to
deep-rooted notions of ethnolinguistic essentialism as encouraged by the
same nation-states whose policies have directly or indirectly
contributed to the destruction of many languages and dialects in the
name of unity -- see [[en:List of state mottos]].)
Regardless, your enthusiasm/advocacy for linguistic diversity is not
only admirable but supported by a number of international institutions
or movements (Declaration of Linguistic Rights [UNESCO]; International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [UN, section 27]; European
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; European Bureau for
Lesser-Used Languages [EU], etc). Of course, Wikimedia is not bound by
them in any way (not at least until Jimbo has succeeded in taking over
the world ;) ) No, but it's nice to know Wikimedia is not merely being
silly or sentimental.
Anyway, for better or worse, it'd help if Friulian speakers are here to
argue the case.