The officials script in China for this language is Arabic and has been since 1983. The ug.wikipedia has a Latin script user interface. The ug.wiktionary however is right to left. This means that there is at least a need for a user interface that is either in Arab and one in the Latin script. Given that Cyrillic is another actively used script, we need three message files for Uyghur.
When a language is expressed in so many ways, the current MediaWiki software does not allow for supporting Uyghur in a meaningful way. It will be good when Multilingual MediaWiki becomes a reality. The good news is that the prospects for this are really good. The last status report I heard was that some install routines have to be written and then people can start experimenting with this new functionality.
PS Check out what MLMW offers :)
Thanks,
GerardM
4 comments:
I have a strong interest in Uyghur. :) One day I will learn it... one day.
Wouldn't it be more useful to have a "converter" like the zh traditional/simplified thing? Rather than having three message files. Because if there was three message files, wouldn't the same content have to be written three times, to be available in the different scripts?
At any rate given the Chinese situation I don't like the hopes of many active Uyghurs participating in Wikimedia. :(
Writing a converter is not simple and, it is a lot of work. Who is going to do this? Is the wish for a converter a reason not to start with three message files that can be done by anyone with a sufficient proficiency in Uyghur?
We do what we do with the people that we have. We can hope that the Chinese situation will improve over time.
Thanks,
GerardM
Similar problem was solved with Kazakh language with help of converter (http://kk.wikipedia.org).
May be it could be used as model solution in case of Uyghur language too?
Even when a converter exists, it does not mean that this is a standard part of the MediaWiki software.
It is often easier to get people that can help creating a user interface translated.. getting people to create a converter is much more difficult.
Having a converter that does work properly in all directions is the "gold standard". :)
Thanks,
GerardM
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