(2010/07/09 8:54), Rajko M. wrote:
On Thursday 08 July 2010 01:37:16 jdd wrote:
We have to build some international network of members that can give us clues.
Exactly what I got in mind talking about translation. There is a lot of people that don't use English, or not enough to be involved in discussion, but they are good minds and skilled. Person with skills in some field useful for openSUSE will avoid to discuss any topic, just because it can't express thoughts the way he/she is used to.
Building international network can help us to access such people.
Agree. But as always, the problem is how we can organize such an international network. Basically, I'd expect the role (link between main English-based community and local $LANG-based communities) of Ambassadors. * Add 'Language' column to Ambassadors list. http://wiki.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Ambassadors_list * Ambassadors who are willing to assume the role will report the languages which they can speak/understand to Ambassador Lead. They should also read/write English and know the openSUSE community/project structure so that they can relay the consultations from Non-English speakers to appropriate channels. * Add the description to each &LANG.o.o main page, for example: "If you have any questions or require further consultation about openSUSE but are not good at English and have nowhere to turn for unreserved advice, contact the Ambassadors in your region first. They will help you solve the problems." Well, I'm going to call such Ambassadors '$LANG Contacts' temporarily. In the past post in this thread, Bryen wrote:
(...) Then, next step is we try to contact someone in that region (e.g. Indonesia) who has a lot of knowledge of the community in that area and ask that person to vouch for that person.
I think those $LANG Contacts can be 'someone'. When Board get an application for membership in Non-English language, they can ask $LANG Contacts to translate the application into English and vouch the applicant. On the other hand, Bryen also wrote:
(...) But its not easy for people to campaign for Board in multiple languages. English is the de facto way that we campaign and communicate with each other and make ourselves known to each other. Therefore, it is a challenge for someone of a different language who doesn't know English to follow with those discussions and campaign efforts.
I'd expect $LANG Contacts to assume the role as a link between main English-based community and local $LANG-based communities also here. If there are Members who are not good at reading English in their $LANG-based communities, the $LANG Contacts will try to translate the necessary information such as election schedule, profile and manifesto of each candidates, etc. into their languages. In this case, help from Translation/Localization Team would be very appreciated ;-) In addition, IMHO, $LANG Contacts are expected to: * help translating Weekly News into their languages. - The main reason why I translate Weekly News into Japanese is to inform ongoing activities in/around openSUSE community/project to those who find it difficult to read original English announcements and blog posts. * translate important announcements which all openSUSE users should know such as upcoming infrastructure maintenance, EOL of previous versions, change of major repositories, etc. into their languages and inform them to their local communities on demand. - I'm trying to do so on a daily basis. ;-) * report activities and problems (if exist) in their $LANG communities to main stream (-project list or -marketing list) regularly so that we can share assignments. What do you think ? I know the biggest problem is, whether there are persons who are willing to assume such a role or not. But at least, I will. (Well, I'm not an Ambassador yet, though. :-P ) Best, -- _/_/ Satoru Matsumoto - openSUSE Member - Japan _/_/ _/_/ Marketing/Weekly News/openFATE Screening Team _/_/ _/_/ mail: helios_reds_at_gmx.net / irc: HeliosReds _/_/ _/_/ http://blog.zaq.ne.jp/opensuse/ _/_/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org