[Wikipedia-l] Re: Requests for new Wikipedias?

[Henry H. Tan-Tenn]

Mark Williamson ti 2004/11/3 EP 08:50 sia-kong:
> The thing is though, it's not like I sent 20 messages in a row asking
> for a Friulian Wikipedia, I wrote one, and responded to peoples
> questions and objections. To not do that might seem like I no longer
> want it created.

Unfortunately perception is not necessarily a rational process.  Ideally 
those 20 or so messages should have come from, say, a couple posters 
other than yourself, of whom at least one should claim to be a 
proficient speaker.  (A certain moral authority is thrown in when that 
proficient speaker further claims to be a native speaker, or at least 
belong to the language's associated ethnicity.  This appeals to 
deep-rooted notions of ethnolinguistic essentialism as encouraged by the 
same nation-states whose policies have directly or indirectly 
contributed to the destruction of many languages and dialects in the 
name of unity -- see [[en:List of state mottos]].)

Regardless, your enthusiasm/advocacy for linguistic diversity is not 
only admirable but supported by a number of international institutions 
or movements (Declaration of Linguistic Rights [UNESCO]; International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [UN, section 27]; European 
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; European Bureau for 
Lesser-Used Languages [EU], etc).  Of course, Wikimedia is not bound by 
them in any way (not at least until Jimbo has succeeded in taking over 
the world ;) ) No, but it's nice to know Wikimedia is not merely being 
silly or sentimental.

Anyway, for better or worse, it'd help if Friulian speakers are here to 
argue the case.