Celtic Knot Conference 2020/Submissions/Develop Wikis in local languages - From Offline to Online

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Title

Develop Wikis in local languages - From Offline to Online

Type of submission

Live Presentation (20-30min)

Author

Anass Sedrati

Language of presentation

English

E-mail address

sedranasgmail.com

Country of origin

Morocco

Affiliation

Wikimedia Morocco User Group

Abstract

In 2019, some members of Wikimedia Morocco wrote an academic paper about the situation of Moroccan Arabic in the incubator. At that time, there were barely 150 articles written during more than 10 years (2009-2019), with several editing wars and conflicts on items as simple as the used alphabet. In 2020, and after being chosen as one of the priority projects of the User group, the Moroccan Wikipedia version in the incubator has over 1000 referenced articles, many of them with Audio versions, allowing this version to apply soon for a "full Wikipedia" status. The aim of this session is to explain how the "offline" user group impacted and structured the "online" encyclopedia, and set clear strategies as well as resolved conflicts between editors. This interesting situation suggests that affiliates can positively and proactively impact Wikis of their local communities if they set it as an objective, through different means including: Recruit editors in these language, advocate for the language, participate in editing themselves, help with organization/management/moderation and communication professional skills. This offline support to the online community holds several benefits and does definitely empower Wikis in languages needing help to grow and bloom.

What will attendees take away from this session?

Attendees will have a better understanding of how a community can start offline and develop the online content of its language, with a clear strategy, agenda setting and objectives. The aim with the presentation is to inspire other communities to duplicate the Moroccan Arabic experience in their own environments and local contexts.

Theme of session

Empowering wiki communities

Slides or further information

Will be added when presentation is accepted.

Links

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