[Foundation-l] Cherokee Language Classes Offered to Support Cherokee Wikipedia

[Jeffrey V. Merkey]

I am setting up an on-line Cherokee Language class that describes the 
structure, syntax, and methods for converting English articles into the 
Cherokee Language to open up the Cherokee Wikipedia to more interested 
editors.  I have received numerous requests from other Wikipedia editors 
and admins on creating such a  class.  Since the rules of Wikipedia 
prohibit using the Wiki's themselves for such content, I will host the 
classes, tests, and instruction lessons on wikigadugi.org.

I am faced with two possible paths to make the Cherokee Wikipedia 
successful.   Be a big fish in a small pond, or try to make the pond 
bigger by raising all ships at the same time.  I am choosing the later 
approach and will try to instill competence in the language with 
interested editors.   There are a lot of Cherokee people who have 
varying degrees of competence in the language, and the solution is to 
instill greater awareness in the language and teach and transfer the 
knowledge to others. 

The basic tools for machine assisted translation are also completed.  We 
now have a version of squid that translates all browsed web content into 
the Cherokee Language.  I will be enabling this translating proxy at 
wikigadugi to allow editors to assist in translating content for the 
Cherokee Wikipedia.  I will have materials completed and online sometime 
in March, and will begin the classes.  To sign up for classes, create an 
account on the Cherokee Wikipedia and I will post a page there for class 
signup for those interested in learning to speak and write in Cherokee.

Wado

donada gohvi.

Jeff