Re: Arabic site

[Nadim Shaikli <shaikli at yahoo dot com>]

--- Isam Bayazidi <bayazidi at accessme dot com> wrote:
> On Thursday 04 September 2003 20:54, Nadim Shaikli wrote:
.
[snip]
>
> > What do you propose ?  Arabeyes will continue to mainly be run in English
> > (we very much require and depend on external non-Arab support too). 
> 
> I disagree with this, as Arabeyes main source and power is the Arabs 
> themselves, the non-arabs had been and will continue to be a great source of 
> help, and assistance to the project, but they should not have a higher 
> priority, and higher consideration than Arabs themselves.

No one mentioned priority and no one was segmenting and excluding anyone.
On the contrary, english is used to include and not exclude.

> > Instead of complaining about this (and if memory serves, you've talked
> > about this for at least a year), I recommend you take-up the item and
> > complete it. Take on the site and Arabize it - once things are Arabized,
> > new content will have to be Arabized (or vice-versa).  Take ACE for
> > instance - we will only publish new ACEs in both Arabic and English
> > (always).
> 
> the question is: will the next ACEs it be English translated to Arabic or 
> vice-versa...

Irrelevant as long as both are available.  If you care to take on ACE and
conduct the interviews in Arabic (and exclude english-only speakers) then
step on forward.  We'll continue to give the interviewee the option to
answer in any language he/she likes.

> > I don't see it that way at all.  Again my view is that the people who will
> > contribute will continue to need to know English (how will you develop if
> > you can't read various docs and howtos out there beyond Arabeyes ? and how
> > will you translate if you don't know english).  So your point, although
> > emotional, is not logical.
> 
> Well, I did not say to abandon English, all I am saying is to give Arabic a 
> higher priority, and a higher rank than it is having now. 

Answer below.

> > I again suggest that you "become part of the solution" and use your talents
> > to solve this issue (you were a translation super-power, no ?).  The files
> > above are a great start, if you would like to see what you note become a
> > reality, bring it forth as such and make it happen.
> >
> > Let us know what you decide to do.
> 
> As for me, I can not commit my self to such big project, as the amount of 
> content in English is really great (is size), and I do not have the time or 
> the commitment to it at the current time. And to be frank, I do not plan to 
> work on an Arabic interface for Arabeyes if it was not the main site 
> language, as I think that Arabic Language should come first for the site, a 
> simple calculation can tell you that more than 95% of the contributors to the
> project are Arabs, and use Arabic as a first language, and talking to them in
> Arabic is important, I will be really happy in the day that I see an Arabeyes
> announcement send to annouce at arabeyes in Arabic along with English. The 
> problem is not translating the site, it is the will from your side. 

To give it higher priority (as you suggest) would require someone to do
the actual work - we can all point fingers and unearth short-comings
and deficiencies (thanks), but is anyone willing to take on the work
to fix it ?  You don't have the time (as noted) and we (core) don't
either -- we believe that bringing on results and new projects to be
pivotal to the survival of this project.  For those that view this issue
(lack of Arabic site) with higher urgency, I would suggest you roll-up
your sleeves and start working on making that a reality.

Complaints will be listened to, but solutions (especially ones that
include yourselves) will be adopted and fostered.  As for our will,
its there and it always was.

As this topic has a tendency to go in circles, I've said all I want.

Salam.

 - Nadim


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