Requests for new languages/Wikipedia French Simple

Simple French Wikipedia

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Requests for new languages (Wikipedia French Simple)

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)

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: MEDIADICO
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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 language^{1, 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

• Proposer: SweetNightmares 02:40, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
• In Favor : If English can have Simple English Wikipedia version the why not french? 59.177.72.105 14:56, 22 September 2009 (UTC)
• It would help English speakers trying to learn French, especially young people. This would be very valuable given the tiny number of native English speakers able to speak another language!

Other discussion

Why do we depend so much on ISO 639 code to create simple language? Perhaps something to change?