Hoi,
Sankarshan ... my point is we can do things now. We can do things now for
most languages of India. If you have issues with the Universal Language
Selector (ULS) and its fonts and input method supports state your issues.
These issues will be for specific languages because not all languages have
the same issues.
I am describing things that can be done now and where the results are
practical. Things like finding pictures for the subjects that now have a
label. Being able to visualise information in a language..
With the support of ULS people CAN use the Internet. With data in Wikidata
we can share in much of the knowledge that is out there.
What is stopping you from making this happen ? What is the point of all
kinds of research when it relies on data that first needs to be there..
Something you are are enabled to do?
Living in the Netherlands I do not speak any of the Indian languages. What
I do is make the point that there are so many things that can be done NOW
to bring YOUR languages to the Internet. I have a history of advocating the
use of languages. I have had the pleasure of being in India and learn about
many of the issues people face. It has become easier to contribute in any
language and make a difference.
Thanks,
GerardM
On 6 January 2014 11:57, sankarshan <foss.mailingli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 3:49 PM, Gerard Meijssen
> <gerard.meijs...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > My point is very much that we can do things NOW. There is no need to
> point
> > to things that you would like when there is so much that CAN be done.
> >
> > The WMF IS working on translation functionality. That may help under some
> > circumstances but it is unlikely to help the languages that do not have a
> > Wikipedia yet. It is not likely to help the majority of those 285
> languages
> > either.
>
> Making a language enabled for computing/digital presence is merely the
> first step. And, making a dictionary available is not going to
> substantially help things along. Wikipedia is not the only content
> system, even if it might well be the largest and, most dynamic.
>
> The problem that I've often seen is that the conversations around
> "endangered languages", "digital death" etc often boils down to simple
> 'solutionism' eg. make dictionaries. Even making the entire set of
> content available in Wikidata is not enough for a language to become
> vibrant digitally. You do need to make a very concerted effort to
> ensure that systems/workflows to create/review content are in place.
> You need to work on ensuring that these workflows are simple enough
> for anyone to sit and produce contributions without having to be
> "technology literate" (ie. acquire enough skills in a technology
> framework before attempting to be productive with it).
>
> > Functionality that is probably available for many languages is
> > transliteration This is where for instance a name is to be made
> available in
> > another script. When such routines are available, we can transliterate
> the
> > names of the humans in Wikidata and other types of data where we can
> safely
> > assume that the transliteration is valid as a label for a languages...
>
> I am not in disagreement with you. The point I wanted to make it is
> that the world of content production is beyond Wiki*. Even if that is
> sometimes a bit difficult to admit and appreciate.
>
> > What we need to decide upon is what we can do now. India has so many
> people
> > that there must be at least one person who can hear this message and
> > understand that we can build relevant information in most if not all
> > languages of India. When we advertise the existence of relevant
> information
> > in a language, more people will have a look and some will take an
> interest..
> > This is how you get to the tipping point where some people start using
> their
> > language in a digital way. Using lexical data to add to Wikidata is one
> way,
> > one step.. it starts with the realisation that we can make a difference
> now.
>
> Adding lexical data to Wikidata is one way and, a very small step. The
> larger steps are often ignored because the premises include "it is too
> hard", "it is not accurate", "no one is doing this". The time has come
> to have a vision as spine-tingling as the 'man on the moon within a
> decade'. Wikidata and other Wiki* content is one piece, but there are
> plenty others and, it really needs to happen.
>
> Quick example, where is the qualitative analysis of predictive
> keyboards for Indian languages that can be used and, does ULS consider
> this a necessity?
>
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