Requests for new languages/Wikipedia Rotuman

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submitted verification final decision

This language has been verified as eligible.
The language is eligible for a project, which means that the subdomain can be created once there is an active community and a localized interface, as described in the language proposal policy. You can discuss the creation of this language project on this page.

Once the criteria are met, the language committee can proceed with the approval and will verify the test project content with a reliable neutral source, such as a professor or expert.

If you think the criteria are met, but the project is still waiting for approval, feel free to notify the committee and ask them to consider its approval.

  • The community needs to develop an active test project; it must remain active until approval (automated statistics, recent changes). It is generally considered active if the analysis lists at least three active, not-grayed-out editors listed in the sections for the previous few months.
  • The community needs to complete required MediaWiki interface translations in that language (about localization, translatewiki, check completion).
  • The community needs to discuss and complete the settings table below:
What Value Example / Explanation
Proposal
Language code rtm (SILGlottolog) A valid ISO 639-1 or 639-3 language code, like "fr", "de", "nso", ...
Language name Rotuman Language name in English
Language name faeag rotuma Language name in your language. This will appear in the language list on Special:Preferences, in the interwiki sidebar on other wikis, ...
Language Wikidata item Q36754 - item has currently the following values:
Item about the language at Wikidata. It would normally include the Wikimedia language code, name of the language, etc. Please complete at Wikidata if needed.
Directionality LTR Is the language written from left to right (LTR) or from right to left (RTL)?
Links "Rotuma Website" Links to previous requests, or references to external websites or documents.

Settings
Project name "Wikipedia" in your language
Project namespace usually the same as the project name
Project talk namespace "Wikipedia talk" (the discussion namespace of the project namespace)
Enable uploads no Default is "no". Preferably, files should be uploaded to Commons.
If you want, you can enable local file uploading, either by any user ("yes") or by administrators only ("admin").
Notes: (1) This setting can be changed afterwards. The setting can only be "yes" or "admin" at approval if the test creates an Exemption Doctrine Policy (EDP) first. (2) Files on Commons can be used on all Wikis. (3) Uploading fair-use images is not allowed on Commons (more info). (4) Localisation to your language may be insufficient on Commons.
Optional settings
Project logo This needs to be an SVG image (instructions for logo creation).
Default project timezone Continent/City "Continent/City", e.g. "Europe/Brussels" or "America/Mexico City" (see list of valid timezones)
Additional namespaces For example, a Wikisource would need "Page", "Page talk", "Index", "Index talk", "Author", "Author talk".
Additional settings Anything else that should be set
submit Phabricator task. It will include everything automatically, except additional namespaces/settings. After creating the task, add a link to the comment.

Proposal

Rotuman is a language spoken by the 10,000 odd indigenous people to the island of Rotuma, which is presently a dependency of Fiji. The Rotuman language is extremely different to its Fijian, Uvean or Samoan neighbours, and the speaking community is spread broadly across the world. A Rotuman Wikipedia presents the decreasing number of native speakers the opportunity to have a website completely in the Rotuman language, proffering future generations the chance to read and come to understand the language as a medium for communicating a wide range of concepts, and would be a welcome addition to the lives of the Rotuman people the world over. Noa'ia ma tae 'on tiu! unsigned by Mattbray 05:33, 1 April 2007.

Discussion

Arguments in favour

  • There are currently two native speakers who are willing to actively participate in bringing their own native language into life on Wikipedia to share and preserve their language and culture for future generations to enjoy and cherish. Since most other Wikipedias in the South Pacific languages such as Fijian, Tongan, Samoan, Tahitian and Nauruan already have their own Wikipedias, the Rotuman language version of Wikipedia should also be given the chance and priviledge to make their mark as well. --Jose77 10:05, 9 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Sure Support. Pietras1988 TALK 10:14, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
  • Support. With two native speakers, the Rotuman Wikipedia will have two more than most Pacific Wikipedias can boast. And they seem enthusiastic too... It will be interesting to see how it develops with such a favorable start. Kahuroa 05:20, 10 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support. Enthusiasm is what we neeed and Matt seems dedicated enough..I say..why not..hope someone can start another in Fijian language as well and pretty soon we will have all the Pacific flair which will definetly Boast Wikipedia's Recognition as and International Encyclopedia...--Cometstyles 12:01, 10 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support fa'aitoito, kia manuia, bon courage to Mattbray and Biskete and to lots of rotuman who i'm sure will contribute to the project. fr:Utilisateur:Nevers
  • Support. Saw discussion of this on Kahuroa's en:wiki talk page, and it looks as if Mattbray is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable editor. If Biskete is equally strong, this should be a fine addition to the Wikipedian stable. Grutness 06:56, 16 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support - From a linguistic POV, Rotuman is no doubt eligible to have its own Wikipedia. Two native speakers is not bad for a start, infact that's more than any other Oceanian WP has had before. --ARBE0 10:13, 18 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support. After Jose77 has ruined all of the PacWikis so far besides Māori and Hawaiʼian (and Nauruan, but that one's complicated itself anyhow), we could really use a fresh one that he hasnh'ruioned yet. ---Node ue 18:49, 19 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support. Think its an excellent idea to have Rotuman added, Good luck with this Mattbray, sorry wont be able to add much cause I only speak Fijian --User:Laulad
  • Support. Good idea, two native speakers found yet, fifth language in Fiji (9000 speakers). Belgian man (nl na en) 15:53, 26 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support I think the work, research and cross checking will be extensive and I won't be able to do much to contribute but I am definately in full support of it. MB
  • Support I strongly support the proposal for a wikipedia in Romuman language, this is one way of promoting and strengthening this unqiue language from becoming extinct just like the Niuean language.202.62.125.18 19:08, 8 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support Most of the 10,000 Rotuman speakers live on the main islands of Fiji, with less than a third living in the traditional island home. Those living in mainland Fiji are spread out amongst 800,000 others who speak other languages. With little opportunity to communicate with others in their mother tongue, there is a strong chance of the next generation being unable to communicate in their traditional language. Wikipedia can certainly play a part in the documentation and maintenance of a unique language. Girmitya 10:48, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • hell yeah, go rotuma!Qrc2006 18:00, 10 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support Willy2000 13:58, 26 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support Support Mikhailov Kusserow (talk) 08:39, 25 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • I support this wholeheartedly because here in Fiji there is an alarmingly high number of young Rotumans who cannot speak their mother tongue. I hate to imagine what this situation will be like in another decade. I am able to understand, speak and write in our language but I am not full Rotuman and there are some full blooded Rotumans who cannot even understand. I guess young people would be proud to have something like this in their own language and thus give them the encouragement to learn.--KonroteJason 05:43, 13 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support. I think it's very valuable to know how to speak/understand/write in your mother tongue. P.S. The Niuean language IS NOT extinct, thank you very much. The only people who say that are those who ARENT niuean and/or palagi's. (caucasions or "white people")

Arguments against

  • none.

General discussion

none.

Localisation update

There is no observable localisation effort at Betawiki. Thanks, GerardM 06:46, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

  • Currently 26.82% of the most used MediaWiki messages have been localised. Localisation of these messages is a requirement before your request is finally assessed. This is the recent localisation activity for your language. Thanks,