Title: Paraguay: Spreading the Guaraní Language Through Blogging
Author: Belen Bogado
Source: Global Voices Online
Date (published): 21/04/2010
Date (accessed): 21/04/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
In Paraguay, where only 3% of the population has access to internet and where the indigenous language of Guaraní is spoken by 88% of the population and also an official state language, Mirta Martínez saw an opportunity where nobody else did. A journalist and a Guaraní teacher, she became the first and only blogger writing in Guaraní in the world, captivating readers not only in Paraguay but also around the globe.

Title: African Languages in a Digital Age. Challenges and opportunities for indigenous language computing
Author: Don Osborn
Pages: 150 pp.
ISBN: 978-07969-2249-6
Publisher: HSCR Press
Date (published): 2010
Date (accessed): 23/02/2010
Type of information: academic publications
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
With increasing numbers of computers and diffusion of the internet around the world, localisation of the technology and the content it carries into the many languages people speak is becoming an ever more important area for discussion and action. Localisation, simply put, includes translation and cultural adaptation of user interfaces and software applications, as well as the creation and translation of internet content in diverse languages. It is essential in making information and communication technology more accessible to the populations of the poorer countries, increasing its relevance to their lives, needs, and aspirations, and ultimately in bridging the ‘digital divide’.

Localisation is a new and growing field of inquiry. This book identifies issues, concerns, priorities, and lines of research and is intended as a baseline study in defining localisation in Africa and how it is important for development and education in the long term.

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Background

3. Introducing ‘localisation ecology’

4. Linguistic context

5. Technical context 1: physical access

6. Technical context 2: internationalisation

7. African language text, encoding and fonts

8. Keyboards and input systems

9. Defining languages in ICT: tags and locales

10. Internet

11. Software localisation

12. Mobile technology and other specialised applications

13. Achieving sustainable localisation

14. Summary and recommendations

Title: Kontax, a teen m-novel in a local African language
Author: Steve Vosloo
Source: mLearning Africa
Date (published): 16/10/2009
Date (accessed): 18/10/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
On 30 September 2009, the world’s first mobile novel – or m-novel – published in both English and isiXhosa was launched. Kontax, a teen mystery story, was created for the Shuttleworth Foundation’s m4Lit project, lead by Steve Vosloo.

Standing for “mobiles for literacy” the project aims to explore whether teens are interested in reading stories on their cellphones, whether and how they write using their cellphones, and whether cellphones might be used to develop literacy skills and a love of reading. The hope behind the m4Lit project is that by researching the role of cellphones in teen reading and writing, educationalists and publishers can better understand the opportunities and challenges for literacy practices presented by the most popular communication device used by any teen today.

See also:
m4Lit: a teen m-novel project in South Africa
Conference paper describing the project (in pdf)

Title: New website for the promotion of regional languages in Alsace
Source: ePractice.eu
Publisher: European Communities
Date (published): 13/10/2009
Date (accessed): 14/10/2009
Type of information: news release
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The French State, the Region of Alsace and the Departments of Haut and Bas Rhin launched a website and a communication campaign in order to promote the use of regional languages.

Posters, newspaper ads, competitions and videos as well as a related website were selected to incite young people to learn their regional language: either standard German or the Alsatian dialect. Three audio messages show young people, who have chosen to speak the regional language. One slogan states "Speak German: it is friendly" and another that "Speak Alsatian, it is merely natural, it is part of the region and defends its culture."

This campaign aims to make learning the regional language more accessible, attractive and natural, by mixing German, French and Alsatian. By combining German and French, the campaign plans to change the image of the German language, by making it more accessible. The campaign also aims to invigorate the image of regional languages.

Title: Government of Canada announces launch of its Language Portal and free access to TERMIUM Plus for all Canadians
Source: Canada News Centre
Publisher: Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
Date (published): 08/102009
Date (accessed): 14/10/2009
Type of information: news release
Language: English/French
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Gatineau, Quebec, October 8, 2009 – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, today announced the launch of the Language Portal of Canada (www.ourlanguages.gc.ca).

The Portal provides Canadians with free, one-stop access to a wide range of language tools, including TERMIUM Plus — the Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank. Users can also consult various writing tools, articles on language problems and numerous other online Canadian resources. This initiative is a component of the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008–2013.
...
The result of over 30 years of research and development, TERMIUM Plus has long been an important resource for language professionals. Now, with the launch of the Language Portal of Canada, anyone can access this useful and reliable tool that provides translations of general and specialized terms and phrases in almost all spheres of human activity. Clefs du français pratique (French) and Writing Tips (English) are among the many tools available through the portal. Articles written by contributors from across Canada are also available.