I think we can do without Novial in the same way we can do without Klingon. The arguments in its favour seem to give it an importance that is not matched with reality. The inclusion of Novial words in the English Wiktionary does not imply that a full project for this language is warranted. The Wikibook about Novial quite properly explains the language; it does nothing to establish that there is anything other than translations or books about Novial written about the language. Who is the audience for this language?
I would even question the legitimacy of many of the votes in support of the language.
Ec
Mark Williamson wrote:
Yes, including:
-Wu (code wuu, native name 吴语) -Mazandarani (code mzn, native name مَزِروني) -Newari (code new, native name नेपाल भाषा) -Lak (code lbe, native name Лакку) -Sammarinese/Emilian-Romagnol (code eml, native name Emilià) -Buryat (code bxr, native name Буряад) -Upper Sorbian (code hsb, native name Hornjoserbsce) -Novial (code nov, native name Novial) -Pangasinan (code pag, native name Pangasinan) -Austrobavarian (code bar, native name Boarisch) -Bishnupriya Manipuri (code bpy, native name ইমার ঠার/বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী) -Dimli-Zazaki (code diq, native name Zazaki) -Zeelandic (code zea, native name Zeêuws) -Tarantino (code roa-tara, native name Tarandíne) -Zamboageno (code cbk-zam, native name Chavacano de Zamboanga) -Classical Chinese/Literary Chinese (code zh-classical, native name 文言文) -North Russian (code ru-sib, native name Сибирской / Полношнорусской) -Min Dong (code cdo, native name Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄)
It may seem like a lot, but in fact each of them has many contributors and native speakers (in the case of Novial and Literary Chinese, fluent writers) waiting to begin building them, and they have been approved by a majority of voters. Most of them have quickly-growing test wikipedias already.
For more information, you can see if you like http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Approved_requests_for_new_languages although that page is rather long and cumbersome now.
Mark
On 29/09/06, Tim Starling tstarling@wikimedia.org wrote:
SJ wrote:
48 supports, no opposition, 5 actively interested editors including a native speaker. It certainly has the requisite # of interested parties. Wikitech-l is perhaps more likely to grab the attention of a developer who can set up the new wiki... where did you send previous emails about this?
I think it's probably about time that we created a batch of new wikis. Are there any other suitable candidates that we can do at the same time?
-- Tim Starling