Hello again, I've created a section on the Wikimedia UK wiki water cooler for this topic. Please do get involved! I know we have a lt of people passionate about language, and languages, so I'm looking for lots of informed input :-)
Have your say at http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Water_cooler#Working_with_non-English_language_Wikipedias_.2F_language_policy Thank you, Stevie On 22 April 2013 16:44, Stevie Benton <[email protected]>wrote: > Hello everyone, > > A couple of things here: > > 1. I am completely with Katie on this - we would dearly love to be able to > engage with people who speak languages other than English. We can point to > the excellent work done by Robin in Cymraeg as a brilliant example of what > can be done by someone with motivation. While I think we'll be hard-pressed > to replicate Robin (although I wish we could, of course) there are plenty > of opportunities. Not just in Gaidhlig or Gaeilge (or even Kernowac, for > that matter) but other commonly spoken languages in the UK, such as Hindi, > Urdu and Bengali. We definitely welcome any suggestions on how we may do > this. I will add something to the Wikimedia UK wiki water cooler to that > effect now. > > 2. I think a language policy is a good idea as long as it doesn't become > overly bureaucratic. Robin, do you have any examples of a similar policy > that is maintained by a non-public body? I remember working in the public > sector and we had the Welsh language scheme. We were obliged to publish any > information of specific relevance to Wales in Cymraeg but not other > non-English languages so we would need some breadth to any policy / > guidance we develop. (I think the reason for this in the public sector was > because Cymraeg was the only non-English language recognised by the UK > government as "official" although I could be wrong.) We would certainly > need volunteer input into any policy and it would be important to involve > speakers / Wikipedians working in non-English languages. > > There are some interesting figures on languages spoken in the UK in this > article from The Independent - > http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/polish-is-second-most-spoken-language-in-england-as-census-reveals-140000-residents-cannot-speak-english-at-all-8472447.html > > > I hope this is useful, > > Stevie > > > On 22 April 2013 16:31, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > >> ** >> Hi Rex >> >> On two occasions at the British Library I mentioned the importance of >> working WITHIN the community not from the outside in. If we're not careful >> this will look like a foreign project thrust upon them rather than working >> organically: from the roots up. >> >> The Library has a wealth of Gaelic manuscripts and books; take a >> glimpse: >> >> http://www.nls.uk/collections/manuscripts/collections/gaelic-manuscripts >> http://www.nls.uk/collections/rare-books/collections/gaelic >> >> as well many Scots classics, such as this one from the 15th-century >> poet Robert Henryson: >> >> >> http://digital.nls.uk/morall-fabillis-of-esope-the-phyrgian/pageturner.cfm?id=74457640 >> >> which is, by the way, on CC-BY-SA. >> >> My second point here is that all language Wikis in Scotland should have >> been told at the same time. Surely, WMUK can understand the importance of >> this? My last point refers to the fact that many such jobs in Scotland, >> Ireland and Wales make the ability to speak Gaidhlig, Gaeilge or Cymraeg >> respectively either advantageous or essential. >> >> >> I await Andrew's response, but from your answers I would suggest that >> WMUK draws up a language Policy asap. >> >> Best regards >> >> Robin >> >> >> >> >> On 22 April 2013 at 23:43 rexx <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I'm sure folks will forward the news to other lists that they >> subscribe to. >> >> Here's some background reading: >> >> http://blog.wikimedia.org.uk/2012/11/were-looking-for-wikipedians-in-residence/ >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedian_in_Residence_draft_job_description >> >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/2013_Activity_Plan#GLAM_Wikipedians_in_Residence >> >> http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/uk/1/1e/DC_staff_report_to_the_board_Feb_2013.pdf- >> and the documents that Daria links to. >> I'm not aware of any feedback from the community on the part of the 2013 >> Activity Plan that deals with the WiR programme. >> >> It would be wonderful if we had a Scots Gaelic speaker involved in our >> activities in Scotland. Sadly only around 60,000 people now speak * >> Gàidhlig* and most appear to be in the Islands. While I'd like to think >> that we could find a bilingual WiR to work in Edinburgh, I wonder what the >> chances realistically are of finding one? It's certainly worth asking the >> question, though. >> >> -- >> Rexx >> >> >> >> On 22 April 2013 22:29, [email protected] <[email protected]>wrote: >> >> *Hi Andrew* >> * * >> *1. Can you send me a link to the wiki community discussions regarding >> this post please.* >> >> *2. I note that you have only informed the en wiki community of this >> news; don't you think that Uicipeid Gàidhlig (and Scotts) should have been >> told at the same time?* >> >> *3. I note that the job spec requirements include: * >> >> - *communicate in English clearly to a wide variety of audiences and >> have excellent presentation skills* >> >> *Surely, the ability to speak Gàidhlig would be an advantage to this >> post and should have been mentioned?* >> >> *Best regards* >> >> *Robin* >> >> >> >> > On 22 April 2013 at 12:02 Andrew Gray < [email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >> > >> > Hi all, >> > >> > Just as my work at the British Library is coming to an end, I'm >> > delighted to be able to tell people about a new Wikimedian in >> > Residence post at the National Library of Scotland - I've helped work >> > to set this up, and I think there's a real potential for doing amazing >> > things here. The NLS is a great institution, with some really >> > innovative and forward-thinking work, and as well as the obvious >> > strengths in Scottish history and culture they have major map >> > collections and one of the most interesting publishing archives in the >> > UK. Lots of scope for interesting projects here. >> > >> > It's full-time, for four months, though this may possibly be >> > negotiable to a longer period at part time - it's worth asking. The >> > job is paid and formally employed by the Library, funded jointly by >> > the Library and by Wikimedia UK. >> > http://blog.wikimedia.org.uk/2013/04/1533/ has further details and a >> > link to the NLS recruitment site. >> > >> > Please circulate this widely! >> > >> > Thanks, >> > >> > -- >> > - Andrew Gray >> > [email protected] >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Wikimedia UK mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >> > WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia UK mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia UK mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >> >> > > > -- > > Stevie Benton > Communications Organiser > Wikimedia UK+44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173 > @StevieBenton > > Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and > Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered > Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. > United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia > movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who > operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects). > > *Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over > Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.* > > -- Stevie Benton Communications Organiser Wikimedia UK +44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173 @StevieBenton Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects). *Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.*
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