[Wikipedia-l] Re: Press release : Logo putsch on the FrenchWikipedia !

Ray Saintonge saintonge at telus.net
Thu Dec 11 19:44:54 UTC 2003


Anthere wrote:

> Ruimu a rit:
>
>> "Constans, Camille (C.C.)" :
>>
>>> Each wikipia has his own rules. Often the same than en:, but
>>> not everytime. I think each wikipedia must have his own rules. 
>>> Respecting
>>> some choosed by the wikimedia fundation, npov for instance.
>>
>> Each wp have its own customs, but should share the same rules, I guess.
>>
>> In theory, each wp entry should be the perfect translation of the 
>> same entry
>> in any language, don't you think ? (IMO encyclopedic goal is to try 
>> to reach
>> universalism.)
>>
>> Then, basic rules should be the same, and the Chinese NPOV is to be 
>> the same
>> as French one or Rwandese one.
>
> I do not think in theory each wp entry should be a translation of the 
> other languages. It is too ideal :-)
> I think each should have its specificity, its special taste. Then we 
> can inspire from the other versions to set each local version.
>
> you are true that chinese npov should be the same than french or 
> rwandese one of course. But that might be expressed differently.

I agree with Anthère.  There are very few rules that should apply in the 
same way to all languages.  The idea of NPOV should apply to all 
languages, but the way it's implemented is going to change.  Something 
might be a problem  for one language, but not for another.

The issue of whether to use simplified or traditional characters in 
Chinese will be an issue since not all Chinese speaking countries have 
adopted simplified characters.  This won't matter very much to English 
or French speakers who would only occasionally write in Chinese characters.

In French and English, as well as in the other languages of the old 
colonial powers, the languages have evolved separately in the mother 
country and each of its former colonies.  France lost control of Canada 
in 1763 when it was still a monarchy, so that a lot of ideas that were 
fundamental to the French Revolution did not automatically become a part 
of Canadian thinking.  That alone can make a single translation impossible.

Ec




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