In a bid to preserve and promote the world’s indigenous languages, Wikipedia has launched the Emilian-Romagnol edition of its online encyclopedia. The website, https://eml.wikipedia.org, aims to provide a comprehensive platform for Emilian-Romagnol speakers to contribute and share knowledge in their native language.
The Emilian-Romagnol edition is part of Wikipedia’s ongoing Indigenous Languages Project, which seeks to empower communities around the world to write, edit, and access information in their own languages. This initiative has gained significant traction, with more than 300 languages now represented on Wikipedia.
The website offers a wealth of information across a wide range of topics, from history and culture to science and technology, all in Emilian-Romagnol. Users can create new articles, edit existing ones, or simply browse through the vast repository of knowledge already available. This serves as a valuable resource not only for Emilian-Romagnol speakers but also for researchers, students, and language enthusiasts.
The Emilian-Romagnol edition of Wikipedia faces competition from other language-specific online encyclopedias. A notable competitor is “La Wikipedia in l’Emiliàn e in la Rumagnòl,” which has been actively serving speakers of Emilian-Romagnol since 2004. It offers a similar platform for users to contribute and access information in their language. Another competitor is “L’enciclopedia libra in l’Emiliàn e in la Rumagnòl,” a freely available resource promoting the Emilian-Romagnol language.
Despite these competitors, the launch of https://eml.wikipedia.org signifies a substantial stride towards the inclusion and recognition of indigenous languages on the web. It provides a space for Emilian-Romagnol speakers to celebrate and preserve their linguistic heritage while facilitating the exchange of knowledge within their community and with the broader world. With an ever-expanding user base and increasing contributions, Wikipedia’s Indigenous Languages Project continues to enrich the diversity of the world’s knowledge.
Link to the website: eml.wikipedia.org
