A Call to Action for Arabic Content on Wikipedia: Bridging the Digital Divide
I recall attending a Wikipedia workshop organized by the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Oxford in 2013, where a pressing question was raised: Despite nearly half a billion Arabic speakers, why does Arabic content on Wikipedia account for less than 5% of the total? More concerning, perhaps, is that only a third of this small percentage is truly useful. This question highlights the immense challenge we face in enriching Arabic content online.
Arabic speakers, unlike many Americans or Europeans, are often multilingual. For example, many Algerians speak French, and many Egyptians speak English. While this multilingualism offers a wide range of opportunities, it also comes with a significant drawback. Time spent learning additional languages can detract from focusing on mastering scientific knowledge. Those who are not fluent in a secondary language may struggle to fully engage with the body of knowledge contained in it, especially when cultural nuances are embedded in the language.
Focusing specifically on Algeria, the questions remain: How many citizens actively contribute to platforms like Wikipedia? The number of contributors and the extent of their contributions remain unclear. However, a 140-page report from Oxford, which I had the opportunity to review, offers valuable insights into these challenges. I highly recommend this report for its thorough analysis.
The report underscores key issues: the general lack of Arabic content in global knowledge repositories, the challenges faced by Arabic-speaking contributors due to the multilingual landscape, and the lack of organized efforts to address these disparities.
In summary, addressing the shortage of Arabic content requires us to define clear objectives, organize efforts, and focus on achieving these goals with persistence, adaptability, and repetition. Despite the obstacles, I remain optimistic about the future and believe that with sustained effort, we can bridge the digital divide.
For more detailed insights, you can access the full report here: Oxford Study Report.
(This conversation was originally part of a social media exchange and has been compiled here with slight adjustments for clarity.)
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