2023:Program/Equity and Community Health/DMSV98-Engaging With Underrepresented Languages
Title: Engaging With Underrepresented Languages
Speakers:
Mohammed Kamal-Deen Fuseini (Dnshitobu)
My name is Mohammed Kamal-Deen Fuseini from Tamale, Ghana. I am a co-lead for the Gurene Wikimedia Community and a trainer at the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group. I have been involved in the digitization of the 16 Mabia languages and other underrepresented languages since 2016 and became a Wikimedian for the same reasons. I have been involved in the incubation and finally helping to get language Wikipedia for the Dagbani and Gurene languages. I have also supported other Wikimedians in Ghana and across in the digitization of minority languages. I am also Wikimedian in Residence for the Wikidata for Education project.
Goodness Ignatius (she/her/ọ)
Goodness is a Librarian from the Igbo community in Nigeria. She is an active participant of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and contributes to various groups such as the Leadership Development Working Group and the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group. Additionally, she is the Co-founder of the Ig (igbo) Wiki Librarians Hub and has coordinated events to inspire both librarians and community members to contribute to Wikimedia. She exhibits a strong commitment to engaging the community in Wikimedia projects and activities.
Room: Room 325
Start time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:30:00 +0800
End time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:50:00 +0800
Type: Lecture
Track: Equity, Inclusion, and Community Health
Submission state: confirmed
Duration: 20 minutes
Do not record: false
Presentation language: en
Abstract & description[edit source]
Abstract[edit source]
This session will explore the importance of linguistic diversity on Wikimedia projects and the need to increase the representation of underrepresented languages. The presentation will focus on the challenges faced by African Wikimedians in contributing to Wikipedia and other projects in underrepresented African languages and also highlight the initiatives and strategies that can be used to overcome these challenges. These include collaborating with language communities, developing language-specific tools and resources, and providing training and support to new and existing contributors. The presentation will also showcase some African communities who have made significant contributions to underrepresented languages on Wikimedia projects, and how their work has helped to promote linguistic diversity and preserve cultural heritage.
Description[edit source]
This session aims to explore the importance of linguistic diversity on Wikimedia projects, and the need to increase the representation of underrepresented African languages. The session will provide the challenges faced by underrepresented African languages in contributing to Wiki projects , such as low levels of literacy, limited access to technology, and a lack of resources and support. To address these challenges, the session will highlight the initiatives and strategies that can be used to engage with underrepresented languages, including collaborating with language communities, developing language-specific tools and resources, and providing training and support to new and existing contributors. The session’s objectives are to: 1. Raise awareness of the importance of linguistic diversity on Wikimedia projects, particularly for underrepresented African languages. 2. Highlight the challenges faced by African Wikimedians in contributing to Wiki projects in underrepresented African languages and identify strategies to overcome them. 3. Showcase examples of successful African communities that have made significant contributions to underrepresented languages on Wikimedia projects. 4. Encourage more African Wikimedians to engage with underrepresented languages and promote linguistic diversity and cultural heritage preservation
Further details[edit source]
Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?
Diversity is an important theme as the session focuses on underrepresented languages and the need to increase their representation on Wikimedia projects. The presentation highlights the importance of linguistic diversity in promoting cultural heritage and preserving languages that may otherwise be lost.
Collaboration is another crucial theme, as the session suggests that collaboration with language communities is a key strategy in overcoming the challenges faced by African Wikimedians in contributing to underrepresented African languages. The session emphasizes the importance of working together to achieve the shared goal of linguistic diversity.
Lastly, the session aligns with the Future theme as it presents strategies and initiatives that can be used to overcome the challenges and increase the representation of underrepresented languages on Wikimedia projects. The session offers a vision for a more diverse and inclusive future for Wikimedia projects.
Qn. What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Qn. What is the most appropriate format for this session?
Onsite in Singapore- Remote online participation, livestreamed
- Remote from a satellite event
- Hybrid with some participants in Singapore and others dialing in remotely
Pre-recorded and available on demand
