On 12/26/2011 10:42 PM, Laura Hale wrote:
On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 2:31 PM, Carol Moore <carolmooredc@verizon.net mailto:carolmooredc@verizon.net> wrote:
If the main problem here is the emphasis on English language solutions and the mention of problems with articles that only concern En.wikipedia, perhaps those speaking other languages could generate proposals on any relevant lists and then bring them here or to the relevant wikimedia pages or other forums or individuals, whatever/whoever they might be.Ah! This sounds brilliant! Will this also apply to English speakers from the United States and United Kingdom? These individuals can speak to those in their national communities, generate relevant proposals on relevant lists (WM-DC, WM-NYC, the American cultures list) and bring them here or to the relevant Wikimedia pages, or other forums or individuals, whatever/whoever they might be?
This seems like an unfair burden to place on men and women in our community from outside the United States and United Kingdom. You're proposing barriers to entry and participation for potentially valuable contributors. Is this list only intended for Americans and Poms?
First, I'm not sure IF language is the Main problem. Just got that impression from one or two posts.
No matter what the main language of the Wikimedia foundation - and who knows what it might be 50 years from now - finding ways to more actively get non-main language speakers involved is necessary. Other ways to do that would be to make sure Wikipedia has a number of employees who speak fluently at least 2 or 3 of the top 5 to 10 languages worldwide. It probably has some already.
Another potential one is messages can be posted to lists like this in several languages at once so everyone can understand them - instant translation software? Though of course that too could have it's problems.
But I do think a viable way is just making sure editors have a formal place to discuss issues and alternatives in own their language. Then individuals or representatives or both can bring these to English speakers where ever relevant.