Tell us about Samogitian Wikipedia

This page belongs to the project Tell us about your Wikipedia.

Žemaitiu kalba (Samogitian language)

Wikimedia Statistics can be difficult to interpret. What is your impression, how many steady contributors do you have?
- 4-5 active contributors but none everyday contributor. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Are your contributors mostly native speakers?
- Not exactly. Because Samogitian languague/dialect has no any official status and most of our users use Lithuanian as main language. Also, part of our users just learned Samogitian but doesn't use it in real life. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- When I proposed the project the main target of this Wikipedia was to show people (and especially for my native people) what Samogition writing system exist. Mostly they don't know. I speak everywhere. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Where do your contributors live (regions/country)?
- Lithuania. Mostly from Samogitia and other Western Lithuania districts. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- I do not live in Samogitia. I live in Vilnius (eastern Lithuania, capital of Lithuania) there is a big Samogitian colony :) Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- Some users and active contributors live in Denmark.
How common is it that your contributors meet in real life?
- uncommon Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- Sadly but I met only 1 contributor. I hope someday I will meet these good guys and ladies :) Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do you have special contacts with other Wikipedias (maybe in related languages)?
- Lithuanian wikipedia Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- I tried to help to Latgalian and Prussian wikipedia. Lithuanian wikipedia is bigesr friend and enemy in case of Samogitian language/dialect :D Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- I have good contacts with Lithuanian, English, German, Swedish and Danish language Wikipedias. Pleckaitis 07:17, 28 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Do you translate a lot from other Wikipedias? Which ones?
- We do often translate mostly from Lithuanian and English. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- Mostly from English, much from Lithuanian, sometime from Russian. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- Mostly from English and Lithuanian, some from German, Latvian, Danish and Swedish. Pleckaitis 07:17, 28 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a Wikimedia chapter in your country? How does your language relate to it?
- No. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Are there work groups in other organizations about Wikipedia?
- No. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a language institution for your language, like an Academy, or a club of people interested in your language? Do you have contact with them?
- There is Samogitian Culture Society but wikipedia has no official contacts with it. Hugo.arg 19:37, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- In one Samogitian Culture Society conference there was question about Samogitian wikipedia (sadly I wasn't here). They asked publishing person is it this project of her and got negative answer. They there angry on us as there was much errors in writing. I can remind it was in the beginning of existing. I'm trying to make new contacts. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Who (else) supports you?
What does the public outreach for your edition look like? Do you have fliers, give lectures, training etc.?
- Wikipedia itself is big training for Samogitian language. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Do you get feedback from readers?
- Yes. 99% possitive :) Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
What other encyclopedias exist in your language?
- No. There are very little literature in Samogitian. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- There are SUFFIXAL NAMES OF PHANEROGAMS IN THE BOTANICAL WORK TAYSLÓS AUGUMYYNIS (1843) BY JURGIS AMBRAZIEJUS PABRĖŽA. Uf, old one, may be more, I don't know :) Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Does your edition concentrate on certain topics, like your region and language, or Latin Wikipedia on Roman history and Christianity?
- Yes. We concentrate on things about Samogitia, Baltic languages and culture. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Did your edition enjoy text donations, for example from older encyclopedias?
- No. There are very little literature in Samogitian. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a generally accepted norm about your language (spelling, dictionary, pronunciation)?
- No. There is a big variety of Samogitian dialects and different spellings. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- There is one writing system for 6 Samogitian dialects. For now I'm working on Samogitian dictionary project, may be it will have influence to dictionary side. From it could came and speller. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
How do you deal with different spellings, dialects etc. (like B.E. lift and A.E. elevator)?
- We use mostly Northern Samogitian dialect and modern spelling with diacritic marks like ā, ē, ī instead aa, ee, y. Also, we discuse a lot about grammar, dictionary and search in sprase sources. Hugo.arg 20:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]
- We have made some normative pages with gramer tables and like that. Zordsdavini 11:54, 16 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]