2023:Program/Community Initiatives/UV3GEX-Language preservation: From writing on Wikipedia to writing a novel

Title: Language preservation: From writing on Wikipedia to writing a novel

Speakers:

Maor Malul

Hi! I’m a computer engineer in loan to the genetic genealogy world, passionate about history and language preservation. I have been a Wikimedian since 2005, admin in the Ladino Wikipedia, founding member of Wikimedia Venezuela and Wiki Cemeteries User Group. I have been a member of the Language Committee since 2012 and served in the Affiliations Committee between 2013 and 2019, now an advisor to the committee. I helped set the foundations of the community that developed the Wayuunaiki Wikipedia, learning the language for a year to help with the basics. The original photo is mine: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Maor_Malul_-_Self-portrait_2023.jpg

Pretalx link

Etherpad link

Room: Room 325

Start time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 10:40:00 +0800

End time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 10:50:00 +0800

Type: Lightning talk

Track: Community Initiatives

Submission state: confirmed

Duration: 10 minutes

Do not record: false

Presentation language: en


Abstract & description

edit

Abstract

edit

How I passed from writing on Wikipedia to writing a novel in an endangered language, as a natural development of our on-wiki work.

Description

edit

In this lightning talk, I would like to tell how writing articles on the Ladino Wikipedia (a language that is severely endangered, according to UNESCO) inspired me to write a novel in this language, and how I am nowadays dedicating almost all my spare time (and money) in it, in a different approach than the traditional wiki-way to help preserve languages, perhaps like an extension of what we do in the movement and in my opinion, part of the natural growth of language and culture preservation.

Further details

edit

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

I would say it relates to the future, especially for less-represented languages. How we naturally evolve from Wikimedians, writing and translating articles, into creators of literature to help preserve endangered languages and make them more robust and vivid.

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