Language Observatory, African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) and Linguasphere Observatory have been collaborating on African Web Language Survey Project since Tunis phase of WSIS held in Tunis during 14-18 November 2005. It conincided with the launch of the African ICT Week initiated by African Union Commission.
Objectives of the project are:
- To get the most accurate language map of African cyberspace and the status of “digital divide” in African continent, and to raise public awareness of it
- To demonstrate the usefulness of multi-stakeholders’ collaboration under the umbrella of the World Network for Linguistic Diversity
Expected deliverables of the project are:
- Language Map of African Cyberspace (Cyberspace Language Census Report): To show how many pages are written in each language, in each country domain.
- Web Usage Maturity Analysis Report:
To show how web technology are used in each country domain.
For example, web links, web maintenance, server technology, open source software usage, etc.
- Web Infrastructure Report:
To show network performance and geographical locations of web servers.
| Date | Actions & Events
|
| 2005/11/15 | The Round Table organized by African Academy of Languages (ACALAN). The meeting was held as one of parallel events registered at World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), Tunis Phase. Members involved in this project first met and discussed the common interests.(see archive)
|
| 2005/11/19 | ACALAN, Linguasphere Observatory and Language Observatory had a meeting at Hotel Acropole, nearby the WSIS Conference Complex, to discuss about a joint action plan. (see archive)
|
| 2006/02/11 | The experimental survey draft of Cyberspace Language Census was circulated among the members for their review
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| 2006/02/21-24 | The 7th International Mother Language Day cerebrated at UNESCO Headquarter, Paris. During this week members discussed the project and future action agenda. (see UNESCO Web News)
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| 2006/?? | African Web Survey Workshop will be organized by members, hosted by ACALAN in Bamako, Mali. Several African eperts will be invited to join to the workshop to have a detailed discussion how to implement the survey.
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| 2006/11/14-20 | 2nd African ICT Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During this event, the final reports of the project will be announced.
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REFERENCE
[1]
Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing online
[2]
African Union Commission's site on African ICT Week
