Four and a half years ago, in June 2003, I set up this list
- A12n-forum - as a sister list to A12n-collaboration and to several other
specialized forums on African languages and ICT.
There appeared at the time to be a need for a list to
address issues of users and projects that were not covered at the time in
A12n-collaboration. Over the years A12n-forum filled that role to a degree,
but also served as a place for posting various other news items and thoughts.
During this period also, other forums have been created -
such as PAL-en - and indeed other means and locations for exchanging
information on various topics related to A12n have appeared - notably Web 2.0
sites of various sorts.
So the need for A12n-forum appears less compelling at this
time. In recent discussions with some others who are involved in localization
for African languages, I have proposed that several selected lists be closed in
favor of others. A kind of consolidation. Among the ones to close: this list
and A12n-entraide (which I closed 3 weeks ago). Other changes are also possible
in response to possibilities offered by Web 2.0 applications.
I am therefore now closing A12n-forum in favor of
A12n-collaboration and will transfer over the subscriptions of A12n-forum
members who are not already on that list. The A12n-forum archives will remain
online as an important resource.
A12n-collab http://lists.kabissa.org/mailman/listinfo/a12n-collaboration
already has a role for commmunication among people working in cerrtain aspects
of technical support for African languages and ICT. It is also mirrored on the Linguist
List site since Sept. 2004, giving the topics discussed there a wider exposure.
If you would prefer not to be subscribed to
A12n-collaboration, please either let me know or unsubscribe yourself.
If you would like to participate in discussions of
localization of software and content in African languages, please consider
joining the list of the PanAfrican Localisation project, PAL-en via http://lists.panafril10n.org/mailman/listinfo/pal-en
Thank you for your participation in A12n-forum, and I look
forward to continueing to exchange information, ideas, and news about projects
to support and enhance the use of African languages in ICT on other forums.
Don
Don Osborn, Ph.D. dzo@xxxxxxxxxxxx +1 202-580-8380
*Bisharat! A language, technology & development
initiative
*Bisharat! Initiative langues - technologie - développement
http://www.bisharat.net
*PanAfrican Localisation Project
*Projet panafricain sur la localisation
http://www.PanAfriL10n.org
