Craig Franklin wrote:
We might then run into a situation similar to the båkmal/nynorsk, or the cantonese/mandarin fiascos, in which each variant of sign language demands a seperate wiki for itself. If we allow an ASL wiki, then how can we say no to an Auslan wiki, a Gestuno wiki, an ISL wiki, etc.
Why should you need to say no to an Auslan wiki, if a realistic request were put forth? The issues should be: can it be done with current wiki technology? And is there a sufficient community of volunteers who are ready and able to accomplish an encyclopedia?
I have no idea how a sign language wiki would work. What other sign language websites are there? Does DMOZ have a listing? The article [[American Sign Language]] mentions two writing systems and says "SignWriting is commonly used for student newsletters and similar purposes." That seems like a good start. Just imagine these student newsletters (do they have websites?) informing their readers about the new ASL Wikipedia. What writing tools, character sets and keyboards do they use?
The Nynorsk Wikipedia, having more than 10,000 articles, is now the most promising encyclopedic endeavor in that language since 1964.