Wp/apc/ويكيبيديا:Introduction in English
Welcome to the test version of the Levantine Arabic Wikipedia. This page is written to inform and invite users who may be able to help bring this project to life in Levantine Arabic (also known as Syrian-Lebanese Arabic), but who currently prefer to communicate using the Latin alphabet and English.
There is already an Arabic version of Wikipedia, but it is written in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Versions of Wikipedia also exist in some other dialects (such as Egyptian and Moroccan Arabic). However, despite the fact that Levantine Arabic is spoken by over 50 million people in countries like Syria and Lebanon, a Wikipedia version in this language/dialect has unfortunately not yet been realized. This project seeks to make that happen. To do so, volunteers are needed to contribute encyclopedic content in this language, in any domain of interest (music, sports, nature, culture, biographies, cities, beliefs, science, etc.).
Wikipedia versions allow for a multi-script system. This means it is possible for this language version to be written and read in both Arabic script and Latin script, if the community requests or decides so. In that case, with software support, users can easily switch between two or more writing systems. For now, in the early stages of this test version, the script being used is the Arabic alphabet. However, it is known that many Levantine speakers typically write Levantine Arabic using the Latin alphabet (e.g., Arabizi or the Turkish alphabet). To bridge this gap during the test phase, it is possible to use script conversion tools or community collaboration within those familiar with both scripts.
To get started, for example, you can add or edit pages about notable figures from the Levant region such as Feyruz or Sabah Fahri, or you can participate in improving the encyclopedic content on their talk pages by sharing feedback or sources. From another angle, you can also contribute to the ongoing work on Levantine Arabic proverbs.
Wikipedia is entirely a volunteer-based project, built cooperatively without hierarchy or obligation. Even writing one sentence per week makes a significant contribution. In addition, users with a certain level of experience may also benefit from Wikimedia Foundation grants, offering professional translation and training services.
Be bold is one of the most important principles of these projects. You can edit or improve any page, including the one you're reading right now. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Every edit can be undone if necessary, which gives contributors the freedom to experiment. In this project, users who make just 11 small edits per month are considered active for that month. If we have enough active users, the project will launch—exciting, isn’t it? You can track the project’s activity level and see how close we are to launch on this page.
If you are interested in contributing to this incubator project, you may also consider joining our Discord Server.
Frequently asked questions
How are we going to deal with variations between Levantine dialects?
How we handle variations within Levantine Arabic is ultimately a decision for the Levantine Arabic Wikipedia community. Currently, clear communication across dialects is the priority. One potential approach is for each subject to be written in the subdialect it most closely aligns with. If there's no clear subdialect fit, the dialect used would be the one chosen by the article's creator. However, this is just one option, and the community will have the opportunity to discuss and decide on the best approach in detail.
How can I help?
You can help by
- Finding more potential contributors
- Proofreading, improving, and completing the most-needed interface translations (complete guide)
- Improving the current pages (translate more sections and improve the grammar and style)
- Improving the MoS
- Writing more pages
See also