[Ubuntu-ch] Language diversity and local roots

[DigiSus]

@Hassan/all: I am sorry if I committed a breach of netiquette. That was 
not my intention. On the matter, however, I uphold the point(s) I made.

@Myriam: Thank you for the links you provided. I respect all the work 
you and others have done in starting the SwissTeam. Yet, I still think 
if people feel this is an issue to be discussed, it should not be 
silenced by simply "closing" the debate unilaterally. Usually the Swiss 
work at least on "bilateral" level. ;-)

Simon Schneebeli wrote:
> Personnally I think that there would be more advantages in having 
> mailinglists in French and German (and why not Italian and Romanish). I 
> think that it is more important to be open to those who don't speak 
> English that to have just one mailinglist. If I'd not speak English, but 
> would like to become active, I wouldn't be interested in joining the 
> French or German or Italian list. What sense is there if I'd want to 
> contribute to a release party if it is organised in Paris but I live in 
> Valais?

Simon raises good points. Separate ML could isolate people, because only 
few would subscribe to several lists (traffic).

I could not reach http://www.swisslinux.ch, so I do not know what is 
there right now. Some 2 years ago, the people of swisslinux contacted 
TheAlternative to cooperate (other vice versa?!), but the site was quite 
small then and was not focusing on ubuntu. That may have changed, dunno.

Once more, I'd like to bring up the technical solution of a forum 
vis-à-vis a ML: What is your opinion about something like this (only an 
exmaple!)...

- 4x language fora, e.g. "Swiss ubuntu community for {English}-speakers"
In each of them, people discuss problems, help each other, organize 
events, do whatever ubuntu-related in their chosen language. Of course, 
everybody is free and encouraged to read and post in any of the fora!

- 1x "Helvetic ubuntu News"
Here, people can post announcements about events, projects, whatever to 
-inform- others. (idea of Mayriams' "reporting pages"). The language 
could be any of the 4 or any combination.

This could work better than a one-language ML and I also think it has 
advantages over having four different language MLs:

+ multilingual, you post and get replies in your chosen language
+ more comfortable/easier to access than a ML (e.g. no subscription for 
'read-only', no traffic in your inbox)
+ More potential to avoid re-discussions because knowledge does not get 
lost so easily as with email archives. Visible archive, search 
functionality, etc.
+ still possibility to get RSS/notifiers (aka "ML feeling")

 > And what would we loose if this list splits up? Would we really be less
 > united? And would this not be compensated by stronger local roots?
 > Probably those who speak as well German as French would simply sign up
 > both lists.

That would be my expectation too. Except that I think 1 registration in 
a forum is more attractive to people than up to 4 different MLs.

As to the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkanization problem: I do not 
expect more of it than in the status quo. Today, we only have the people 
able to converse in English: lurking if they can follow English and 
contributing if they feel secure enough. (Any) Language is a strong 
self-selection mechanism for new people.

Having a web-based forum would allow everything that the ML offers today 
-- and (potentially much) more.

Regards,
Marcus