[Wikipedia-l] Re: new request for ASL/English wikipedia

[Lars Aronsson]

Craig Franklin wrote:

> We might then run into a situation similar to the 
> båkmal/nynorsk, or the cantonese/mandarin fiascos, in which each 
> variant of sign language demands a seperate wiki for itself.  
> If we allow an ASL wiki, then how can we say no to an Auslan 
> wiki, a Gestuno wiki, an ISL wiki, etc.

Why should you need to say no to an Auslan wiki, if a realistic 
request were put forth?  The issues should be: can it be done with 
current wiki technology?  And is there a sufficient community of 
volunteers who are ready and able to accomplish an encyclopedia?

I have no idea how a sign language wiki would work.  What other 
sign language websites are there?  Does DMOZ have a listing? The 
article [[American Sign Language]] mentions two writing systems 
and says "SignWriting is commonly used for student newsletters and 
similar purposes."  That seems like a good start.  Just imagine 
these student newsletters (do they have websites?) informing their 
readers about the new ASL Wikipedia.  What writing tools, 
character sets and keyboards do they use?

The Nynorsk Wikipedia, having more than 10,000 articles, is now 
the most promising encyclopedic endeavor in that language since 
1964.


-- 
  Lars Aronsson (lars at aronsson.se)
  Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se