from the mailing list..


Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:46:26 -0400
To: "Mesfin S. Mulatu" <m_mulatu@yahoo.com>
CC: "AAU-ALUMNI" <Addis-Ababa-university-alumni@yahoogroups.com>, "Jimma University" <JU-Network@yahoogroups.com>, esai@yahoogroups.com, "CommittedEthiopiansNetwork" <CommittedEthiopiansNetwork@yahoogroups.com>
From: "Damtew Teferra" <teferra@bc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Addis-Ababa-university-Alumni-Network] Windows in Amharic


Dear Mesfin,

I cannot agree with you more the extent to which the issue of copyright is critical! It is absolutely imperative that we ensure the use of our language for posterity for free--with no strings attached.
There are some Ethiopians who are already doing good work on this general area. One such person, I had a pleasure of knowing recently, is Dr. Abera Mola who has written and done an extensive work (his website is at http://www.ethiopic.com/). The Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission was also doing related work some years back (I have no information if they are still engaged in that work). Furthermore, as this is an important national issue, a conference of some kind, I feel is, rather very pertinent. This conference should bring experts from a wide array of fields and disciplines--possibly from around the world (Ethiopians and foreigners--to learn from their experience). I think it is a sensible idea if this initiative is undertaken jointly by (the recently reconstituted) Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Department of Language Studies, and Ethiopian Studies under a national supervisory body.

Damtew


Mesfin S. Mulatu wrote:

Damtew and All:

I agree that the involvement of our experts will be critical to the development of high quality Amharic version Windows operating and application systems. I hope that such involvement leads to a guarantee that intellectual property rights for local wisdom, inventions and products are duly protected.

A quick check at Microsoft's website suggests that the company seems to be working with local experts and governments, although I am not sure the nature and level of this participatory process. Here are just two quotes from the website:

Through the Local Language Program, local and regional government participants can localize Windows® XP Home and Professional and Office 2003 to one language interface through a Language Interface Pack (LIP). Language Interface Packs are developed by Microsoft in cooperation with local governments and communities to ensure that the local languages are defined, standardized and agreed on by users of the language, resulting in consistent local terminology across components. With LIPs, users can install one specific language version as a layer on top of an existing installation of Windows XP with Service Pack 1 and the Office Standard Edition 2003 applications, Word, Excel, Outlook® and PowerPoint®. The Local Language Program provides opportunities to people of all cultures, regions, locales and languages by facilitating access and promoting communication and interaction.
===============================================================

Before today's announcement of the Local Language Program, Microsoft provided desktop language coverage for approximately 40 languages. Through the technology available in the Local Language Program and collaboration with local and regional governments, Microsoft plans to add an additional 40 languages in the near future. In Ethiopia, Microsoft will be working with the local government and universities to develop a Language Interface Pack for Amharic.

"We are excited about Microsoft's Local Language Program, which will enable Ethiopians to use Windows and Office in Amharic. Amharic is spoken by most of the 60 million people in Ethiopia; it is the working language of the nation," said Andreas Eshete, a professor and president of Addis Ababa University, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "The Local Language Program, we truly believe, will make IT solutions more accessible to the Ethiopian community. It also represents a breakthrough for Ethiopian linguistic and literary studies as well as, more generally, Ethiopian studies. We eagerly look forward to its introduction in our country."

For full story, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/mar04/03-16LLPPR.asp


Mesfin


Damtew Teferra <teferra@bc.edu> wrote: Selam all.

I felt the need to share this news (from BBC) with the Ethiopian
community in the ongoing effort to develop Windows in Amharic. Our
linguists, IT experts, engineers, and others need to get involved while
this blue print is developed for our national heritage. I recall a
project termed Scientific and Technological Terms Translation Project
(STTTP) that was spearheaded, if I recall correctly, by Prof. Ermias
Dagne and Dr Demissu Gemeda in the late 1980s and 1990s. I also recall a
good number of discipline-based books produced and sold in bookshops in
the country. A great lesson can be drawn from this work and also the
translation work at the Educational Materials Production and Development
Agency (EMPDA) of the Ministry of Education. We MUST utilize this
existing national resources in the development of Amharic (and other
languages) as we shape our languages in the information age. I have no
idea if the computer and IT departments of Addis Ababa University are
involved; in any case, the point is that we need to brainstorm and take
lead in the development of our langugage. I also urge those based
outside the country and whose profession would help contribute in this
effort to take an active interest.

Let's ensure that this information is transmitted as widely as possible.

Damtew

BBC NEWS
Microsoft to launch in Kiswahili
Gray Phombeah
BBC, Nairobi
Kiswahili is to be introduced into Microsoft Windows as part of a global
project to increase world usage.

The software giant has agreed to translate its Office software into the
language to cater for the growing number of computer users in Africa.

"We are focussed on Kiswahili because it's a language of choice in the
East African region," says Microsoft East Africa's Patrick Opiyo.

The rollout of Kiswahili Microsoft products is expected in six months.

Million users

Kiswahili will be one of the new languages due to be added in a global
local languages programme in response to complaints from around the
world that youngsters were losing their native tongues, says Mr Opiyo.

Microsoft programmes already run in 40 languages including English,
Chinese, Arabic and Spanish.

We have enlisted language experts ... to come up with a common glossary
Microsoft East Africa's Patrick Opiyo

The company argues that in a region with few computer users and high
illiteracy rates, the Kiswahili version of Windows will inspire East
African governments to expand their IT economies, encourage literacy
campaigns and attract more computer users.

"We are putting Kiswahili closer to the people who speak the language,"
says Mr Opiyo.

"So we hope this initiative will re-ignite programmes of adult education
and literacy by the governments in the region."

There are 100 million Kiswahili-speakers in the region - in Kenya,
Tanzania, Uganda and parts of the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, Malawi,
Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands.

Ten percent have access to computers, and Microsoft hopes to attract 5%
more when the Kiswahili version of its products hit the market.

More to come

The other big linguistic groups to benefit from the expansion in Africa
will be Hausa and Yoruba in West Africa and Amharic and Somali in the
Horn of Africa.

"We have begun the process in Africa (there will be) ... other languages
apart from Kiswahili," says Mr Opiyo.

"We are looking at Hausa, we are looking at Yoruba - we are also kicking
off with Amharic in the next week.

"These languages will be customised and built for Windows XP and Window
Office standards."

It means computer users in parts of Africa and the diaspora will soon be
able to point and click, and operate the world's most used office
software in their own native languages on their computers.

Mr Opiyo admits that the inclusion of Kiswahili in Windows will pose
unique challenges.

"The biggest challenge is the different dialects spoken in different
countries in the region. And so it means working on the standardisation
of Kiswahili - working out a common ground and common terms within the
region.

"We have enlisted language experts from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Zanzibar as well as the Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of Congo
and have asked them to come up with a common glossary," he explains.

But it be will fun - promises Mr Opiyo - when the Kiswahili Windows
rolls out.

For one, the bells and whistles of the start menu are set to change - a
Kiswahili Taarab (East African coastal music) tune will welcome users
when they log on or open their email.

"Windows will be speaking Kiswahili to Swahili computer users," Mr Opiyo
says.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/3816717.stm

 

Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 19:56:13 -0400
To: "AAU-ALUMNI" <Addis-Ababa-university-alumni@yahoogroups.com>, "Jimma University" <JU-Network@yahoogroups.com>
CC: "CommittedEthiopiansNetwork" <CommittedEthiopiansNetwork@yahoogroups.com>, esai@yahoogroups.com
From: "Damtew Teferra" <teferra@bc.edu>
Subject: Re: Windows in Amharic

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[This message was sent to me for posting by Dr Kitaw Ejigu with regard to Windows in Amharic.]

Dear Damtew, Mesfin and All,

I appreciate and agree with both Damtew & Mesfin in all that is pointed out this far. It is imperative that a responsible & accountable body, for systems engineering and quality assurance, be established or formed such that all issues & requirements for the development, standardization of the applications and the interfacing of various modules be base lined with that of English ((for user friendliness, simplicity & robustness) to take advantage of the lessons learned, the globalization features, the cost effectiveness overall and most importantly its deployment for immediate utilization by all Ethiopians & other users.

The new to be well organized responsible & accountable body of experts should be the one that ought to establish and periodically upgrade this Amharic Windows Universal Applications (AWUA) language, not a government controlled institution or the government itself or some establishment that may wish to monopolize for exclusive economic exploitation. Developmental cost effectiveness & accelerated deployment/utilization be given higher priority, and quoting Mesfin, "..It is absolutely imperative that we ensure the use of our language for posterity for free--with no strings attached." Free for all!!!

Looking forward to advancing this effort with you all.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Kitaw Ejigu, Ph. D.

Chairman & CEO

TransTech International

E-mail: Kitaw.Ejigu@transtechinternational.com

Web site: http://www.transtechinternational.com/