[Foundation-l] Development in Africa

[Jeff V. Merkey]

Gerard Meijssen wrote:

>Anthere wrote:
>  
>
>>Gerard Meijssen wrote:
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>>    
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>>>Anthere wrote:
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>>>      
>>>
>>>>1.2. Identification of big media group (make a list).
>>>>Contact and proposition of articles. Language focus: english, french, 
>>>>arab, portuguese.
>>>>Of course, include them in the list of press release.
>>>> 
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I take it that you want to engage the media in the countries themselves, 
>>>this is more effectively done by local people. They will be able to do 
>>>so effectively when they know themselves empowered to do so. This means 
>>>that local chapters may be really relevant here. They are because they 
>>>can handle money and they provide a front to the people who do things on 
>>>the ground. If you want to stimulate local languages, learn how it is 
>>>done by others, what is done in Neapolitan is one good example but there 
>>>are more like it.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>Can you explain more about what is done in Neapolitan language ?
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>The Neapolitan language is a language that is considered by many to be 
>inferior. People are not educated in it, while the Neapolitans are a 
>proud people many sadly do not take pride in their own language. In 
>order to promote the Neapolitan language, everything is done to 
>stimulate the recognition of the Neapolitan language. Stubs are created 
>to create a tapestry of articles that are linked. Translation tools are 
>used to generate content. There is a newsletter in Neapolitan to people 
>who are interested. People living as far afield as the USA and Australia 
>are contacted when they show their interest in the Neapolitan language. 
>There have been articles in the press about the project. Neapolitan 
>traditions are covered, local interest is sought.
>
>As the Italian chapter now has a coordinator for the regional languages, 
>it will be interesting to see how the chapter will be able to facilitate 
>projects like the Neapolitan wikipedia.. I know for instance that the 
>Neapolitan project would love to have a Neapolitan dictionary to scan 
>and OCR as well as support for scanning original Neapolitan literature 
>(most of is it in the public domain).
>  
>
>>>>1.3. Identification of specialized press (make a list)
>>>>Focus: Linux fanatics :-) Contact and proposition of articles
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I think the Linux fanatics are overrated, they have many of the concepts 
>>>right, they have the fanatism wrong. We should reach out to everyone we 
>>>do not want to be associated and identified with a fanatic fringe. I 
>>>understand and appreciate the wink, but some of these people are fringe 
>>>and are more of a burden than of a help.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>Frankly... I have seen most languages start thanks to developers 
>>participation. And remember quite well that for a rather long time, the 
>>only articles we got were only in tech journals. This is something we 
>>should rely on.
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>It may be true that many of our "languages" (you mean Wikipedia ?) were 
>started by developers, but since then many other projects have started 
>and many of these projects have not been started by developers. Many of 
>these projects are doing well. When you consider the press coverage we 
>are getting, you will find that we are now have traction in the main 
>press. The effect of publications like the one in Nature, the 
>Seigenthaler interview on CNN proved extremely valuable. This is where 
>our current relevant exposure comes from. A slashdot article does no 
>longer generate a slashdot effect.
>
>I am not suggesting that we should cold shoulder the computer press. 
>They are relevant to a large part of the wiki community. What I am 
>saying is that the Linux fanatics are not and have never been that 
>important. The people who became involved in our projects have been too 
>level headed to call them fanatics.
>
>  
>
>>>>1.4. Identification of major NGO working on education and woman groups.
>>>>Contact. Provide them with a bit of "advertisment".
>>>> 
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>When you want to get NGO's to work on our projects, you do not only want 
>>>to inform them, you also want to engage them. It means that a 
>>>substantial amount of time will be involved. The time frame in which 
>>>they operate is quite different, they work with budget cycles, 
>>>deadlines. NGO's are often really enthusiastic but for them wikis and 
>>>their methodology are new; they have to be initiated in the wiki way. It 
>>>takes time and perseverance.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>Correct
>>
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>>>>1.5. Contact of all major universities.
>>>>propose them teleconference (if they are equipped) or irl presentation 
>>>>(if that fit well with a formal conference or a trip)
>>>> 
>>>>      
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>>>I have not done that systematically yet, but it is extremely likely that 
>>>I will get many more contacts in universities soon.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>ok
>>
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>>>>2. Favor production of content in languages already developped
>>>>Cases such as RAFT or Wiki voices. If necessary, find money and someone 
>>>>to help coordinating this to ensure success.
>>>> 
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>It is helpful if there is a place where these things are coordinated. A 
>>>language subcommittee of the SPC could do many of these things.. It is 
>>>just for this subcommittee to be allowed to start. Finding money is not 
>>>that hard. It just needs a plan that needs implementation. Approving 
>>>plans for funding and incorporation in the WMF would be a step towards 
>>>the notion of "donations, putting your money where your mouth is" 
>>>(details on Meta).
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>Right now, the problem seems to be that nobody is willing to take time 
>>doing plans. Doing plans is not as funny as writing articles.
>>For example, I suggested a long time ago we should build up a list of 
>>african media contacts to send press releases to. I started doing that a 
>>long time ago for Algeria and Marocco (press releases sent there never 
>>raised any attention though). But a much more extensive list needs to be 
>>set up and used. But no list has ever been made as far as I know. Saying 
>>"it needs a plan" is good, that does not make it happen. Approving plans 
>>is good as well, but needs a plan in the first place.
>>
>>I am unsure how to approach this.
>>  
>>    
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>There is a plan what a language subcommittee can do. It has been 
>published on Meta. There are people who are willing to execute that 
>plan. The only thing that is needed is to have a mandate to do this for 
>the Wikimedia Foundation as well. We are doing many of the things 
>mentioned anyway because it benefits the WiktionaryZ project and we do 
>not mind that the benefit is more than just WiktionaryZ; that is what 
>makes it so sweet to do.
>  
>
>>>>3. Favor production of content in local languages
>>>>
>>>>* Help Beta Wiki
>>>>* Contact local NGOs for help in translation interface
>>>>* Identification (now) of major languages (according to read/write 
>>>>coverage)
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>There is agreement between Brion and Nikerabbit that Beta Wiki will be 
>>>hosted on a more convenient place. This is an extremely important thing 
>>>and I am grateful to Brion to help out on this one.
>>>
>>>Translating the User Interface only for our projects is a missed 
>>>opportunity. MediaWiki is extremely powerful software. When the 
>>>localisation is also seen as an opportunity to have this great tool 
>>>available, it becomes something that has relevance to an organisation 
>>>for itself. This is an extremely powerful argument. It also underlines 
>>>why the localisation in a wikipedia is not such a great idea; it's scope 
>>>is only that project and there is no added benefit.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>Here, I appear to have lost you on the way... can you re-explain ?
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>When an NGO helps with the localisation of MediaWiki, only to have a 
>Wikipedia benefit, is a nice effort but a missed opportunity. MediaWiki 
>can be used for other projects including projects of the NGO itself and 
>the partners they asked to do the localisation for them. This way 
>MediaWiki becomes a tool for these organisations as well and this in 
>turn makes the investment in the localisation more valuable. This means 
>that MediaWiki should be seen as a valuable commodity in it's own right, 
>a commodity we should more actively promote.
>  
>
>>>>Here are some thougts. Are they others ?
>>>>Who feel like helping take care of some of those points ?
>>>> 
>>>>      
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>It is important to be enthusiastic about what we do and it is as 
>>>important to have a good understanding what the WMF does and what it's 
>>>projects are. It is however also really relevant to tell that the WMF is 
>>>part of a growing ecosphere with many other projects like Wikitravel, 
>>>Yellowiki, Wikia being part of it. This shows that the wikiway is not 
>>>only the Wikipedia way.
>>>
>>>I have been taking care of some of these points because it helps 
>>>WiktionaryZ. For WiktionaryZ it is relevant that we are part of this 
>>>whole wiki thing. The strength of what we do is achieved in the many 
>>>different things we do, try and achieve. We would be better served if we 
>>>cooperated more and bickered less.
>>>    
>>>      
>>>
>>indeed
>>
>>I went back to the meta page on the topic. They are hopelessly outdated.
>>
>>Well, my first move will be to contact back this BBC journalist as well 
>>as the journalist from IT & Telecom Digest. One step at a time.
>>  
>>    
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>>>Thanks,
>>>     GerardM
>>>
>>>http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/afrophonewikis/ - Yahoo group on 
>>>supporting African language
>>>http://www.kasahorow.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page - Wiki for a 
>>>project plan for supporting Ghanaian languages
>>>http://wiktionaryz.org - Pre alpha project to do lexicology, terminology 
>>>and ontology has both language and country portals
>>>http://nike.users.idler.fi/dev/index.php?title=ISO-639-3/gil
>>>      
>>>
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>  
>
When the lexicons are completed, I'll start translation runs in Neopolitian.

Jeff