2023:Program/Submissions/Synergy of Wikimedians in creation of Arebhashe Dictionary and Encyclopaedia - 8EPMXZ

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Title: Synergy of Wikimedians in creation of Arebhashe Dictionary and Encyclopaedia

Speakers:

Bharathesha Alasandemajalu

I am a banker by profession and a Mechanical Engineer, and I am currently pursuing higher studies in Tulu and Kannada languages. My passion for preserving and sharing knowledge and culture has led me to actively edit on Tulu Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Meta. As an executive member of Wikimedia's affiliate Karavali Wikimedians User Group , I organize events and competitions to promote the use of Wikimedia projects. Outside of my professional and academic pursuits, I am also a ham radio operator, blogger, trekker, and photographer. I love learning new things and interacting with people, and I find great joy in watching live performances of Yakshagana and plays. I am particularly interested in documenting oblivion performance arts and supporting the digitalization of books. In recognition of my contributions to Tulu Wikipedia and the Karavali Wikimedians user group, I hold the position of sysop for Tulu Wikipedia.

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Room:

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Type: Lightning talk

Track: Community Initiatives

Submission state: submitted

Duration: 10 minutes

Do not record: false

Presentation language: en

Abstract & description

Abstract

The creation of a first ever dictionary and encyclopedia for the Arebhashe language is a remarkable achievement and a milestone in the pursuit of language preservation and promotion. This project was born out of the recognition that the Arebhashe language, spoken by a small community in Karnataka, India, was at the risk of extinction. To address this issue, a group of Wikimedians and native speakers came together to create comprehensive resources that would document and promote the language. I served as the chief editor for the Arabhashe encyclopedia and main editor for the Arabhashe dictionary

Over the course of several years, this team worked tirelessly to research, compile, and edit the content for the dictionary and encyclopedia. The end result is a 950-page dictionary and a 450-page encyclopedia that will serve as a comprehensive guide to the future generations about Arebhashe language and culture.

This project is significant not only for the preservation of the Arebhashe language but also for the promotion of diversity and bridging the gap between language and culture. The resources created are now available to a wider audience, providing an opportunity for people outside the native-speaking community to learn and interact with the language. Additionally, this project serves as an inspiration for others working to preserve and promote endangered languages, showcasing the power of collaboration and the impact that can be achieved through concerted efforts.

Description

The beauty of a language lies in its ability to reflect the customs, traditions, and cultural ethos of a people. However, the reality is that many languages, particularly regional ones, are at risk of extinction. The agricultural revolution has already led to the disappearance of hundreds of cultural practices, and the last link to those cultures is often the elderly members of the community. With this in mind, a group of passionate individuals has come together to create a platform that will help preserve the endangered language of Arebhashe.

Arebhashe is one of several endangered languages spoken in the coastal region of Karnataka, India. Despite its uniqueness, it is often classified as a dialect of Kannada due to its administrative formula. However, to the people who speak it, Arebhashe is a distinct language with its own rich cultural history.

To prevent the loss of this cultural heritage, a team of dedicated individuals has come together to create a dictionary and encyclopedia specifically for Arebhashe. By doing so, they hope to ensure that the language, along with its customs and traditions, can be passed down to future generations. They recognize that this project is just a stepping stone towards preserving the language and culture, but it is an important one.

The Arabhashe language dictionary contains over 18,000 words in just 950 pages is a testament to the incredible depth and breadth of the language. This dictionary is an invaluable resource for those seeking to delve deeper into the nuances and complexities of the Arabhashe language, and it represents a remarkable feat of scholarship and linguistic mastery.

The Arabhashe encyclopedia covers 400+ headings in just 450 pages, showcasing the wealth of knowledge and information that can be found within Arabhashe culture and history. This invaluable resource explores all aspects of Arabhashe society, including its people, art, culture, traditions, literature, and much more

In a world that is becoming increasingly homogenized, efforts like these remind us of the importance of diversity and cultural heritage. Through our work, the team behind the creation of the first-ever Arebhashe dictionary and the first-ever encyclopedia is making a valuable contribution to the preservation of regional languages and the cultures they represent.

Further details

Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?

Diversity: The work with the Karnataka State Arebhashe Samskrithi Mattu Sahitya Academy showcases the importance of preserving and promoting underrepresented languages, which is an essential aspect of diversity with different geographical conditions. By contributing to the creation of a dictionary and an encyclopedia in an underrepresented language, we are helping to ensure that the language and culture are not lost and that more people have access to them.

Collaboration: Our work with the Academy also highlights the significance of collaboration. By working together with native speakers, students, language experts, researchers and other Wikimedians, we were able to create a comprehensive dictionary and encyclopedia that would not have been possible without collaboration.

Future: Our work is also significant for the future, as it creates a bridge between languages and cultures, bringing them closer together. The resources we have created will be available for future generations to use, promoting and preserving the language for years to come. Additionally, collaboration with other Wikimedians will allow us to gather new ideas and techniques that we can use to continue our work and ensure that it remains relevant in the future. Its completely a ordinary Wikimedia's become a chief editor and main editor of monumental work in Arebhashe language

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