Celtic Knot Conference 2017/Programme/CK121

Title: Welsh-language technology and digital media

Lecture Theatre 2 - University of Edinburgh Business School.

Date: 6 July 2017

Time: 2:40pm to 3pm.

Duration: 15 minute presentation (5 mins Q&A).

Venue: University of Edinburgh Business School - Lecture Theatre 2

Speakers:

• Gareth Morlais, Welsh Language Unit, Llywodraeth Cymru - Welsh Government.

Overview of topic:
This presentation will share with the conference what we’ve discovered about the importance of the number of Wikipedia pages in a language in getting better services for that language from big companies. I’ll show slides mapping the languages supported by Google, Twitter, Apple, etc. against both number of speakers and number of Wikipedia articles in languages to show how much importance major companies attach to creative activity on Wikipedia. I’ll explain how this information has led to Welsh Government helping to fund two Welsh-language Wikipedia initiatives called WiciPop and WiciMôn and how we wanted to strike a balance between the need to scale up article production with the need to encourage more people to hand-craft articles in workshops. I’ll compare this activity with that of the Papurau Bro – Welsh-language community magazines – which have brought people together to fold and staple editions in chapel vestries since the 1970s. And I’ll argue that including a link to a Wikipedia article started by a school pupil is an asset for their personal statement and CV. So this isn’t an academic paper I’m presenting; it’s a passionate account of a public intervention aimed at solving a lot of challenges at the same time.

Notes: Etherpad link.

Supporting material:

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