[Wikipedia-l] Individual Wikipedias for different Sinitic vernaculars (Cantonese debate) - update

[Stirling Newberry]

On Jan 28, 2005, at 9:02 PM, Sheng Jiong wrote:

>> This is far from the truth. There is a standard written language, yes,
>> but it is based on Mandarin. Colloquial writings in regional varieties
>> use different grammar, different vocabulary, and even different
>> characters. (The popular book "he zanhwa" had to be translated to
>> Mandarin before it could be read by non-Wu speakers)
>
> You are discussing an extreme example. Look at all the broadsheets in
> Hong Kong(where most people only know how to speak Cantonese, not
> Mandarin), and their newspapers can still be understood by mainland
> Chinese. Of course some tabloids would use distinctive "Cantonese
> characters", but there are really not the standard.
>
> And really what is the use of setting up a Wikipedia if only *one*
> user is interested?
>
> [[User:Formulax]]

I would again like to propose that a "notability" standard be applied 
to language division - if asked to show that there is a movement to 
create a literature in the dialect that is distinct from the main 
language - including, but not limited to, the native production of 
dictionaries, social and literary apparatus and so on, could we do it? 
If a division does not meet this notability standard - separate from 
the desires of our users, then it should be considered only if there 
are other extenuating circumstances. This is an extension of the "no 
original research" standard.

Wikipedia should support, but not lead, the efforts to create language 
identity.