Requests for new languages/Wikipedia French Simple

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Simple French Wikipedia[edit]

See also the second (but said to be the third) request (verified as eligible)

submitted verification final decision
This proposal has been rejected.
This decision was taken by the language committee in accordance with the Language proposal policy based on the discussion on this page.

The closing committee member provided the following comment:

Does not have an ISO 639 code. Jon Harald Søby 09:14, 18 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Proposal summary
  • Language details: French (français simple): ISO 639-1 (fr)
  • Editing community: SweetNightmares (P)
    List your user name if you're interested in editing the wiki. Add "N" next to your
    name if you are a native speaker of this language.
  • Relevant pages: proposed domain: http://frsimple.wikipedia.org/ (not taken)
  • External links:
Please read the handbook for requesters for help using this template correctly.

Given that French is spoken widely throughout the world, both socially and in business settings;

Noting that an estimated 365 million people speak French as a second language;

Observing also that an estimated 500 million have "significant knowledge" of the French language1, 2;

Further comparing above figures to estimates of approximately 65-80 million native speakers of the French language3;

Arguing that having a Simple French Wikipedia project would expand knowledge to those unable to read the French Wikipedia;

Recognizing that the French language is very complex and decorative, though readily able to simplify:

Hereby is submitted a proposal to start a Wikipedia project dedicated to Simple French articles.


  1. http://www.ethnologue.com
  2. http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500404/Languages_Spoken_by_More_Than_10_Million_People.html
  3. http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/francophonie/francophonie.htm

Arguments in favour[edit]

Arguments against[edit]

Other discussion[edit]

  • Why do we depend so much on ISO 639 code to create simple language? Perhaps something to change?
  • Seriously, who cares about ISO? Surely simplifying a language doesn't make it its own dialect/language. Does simple english even have its own ISO639 code? Because I cant find it