That's a code we do not use. Please have a look at ISO 639-3 codes for languages spoken in Morocco. I think you mean either Tachelhit (shi), Tamazight (tzm) or Tarifit (rif) - all 3 languages are already supported here, shi and rif are supported in MediaWiki proper. Once you know which language you mean, and let us know, we can continue. Otherwise, please refer to a Wikipedia article or other source about the language.

Siebrand‎

I am well aware of those three branches of Berber and I can speak and write them as well. But I want to contribute in the development of a unified Berber Wikipedia.

There is a test Wikiepdia of it here:

http://incubator.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wp/ber/Tasna_Tamezwarut

Arabic for example is also more or less a macrolanguage group of Arabic languages and varieties (there are many branches of Arabic with their own ISO 639-2 or 639-3 codes).

Egyptian Arabic has an ISO 639-2 code which is: arz, and it has its own Wikipedia too.

So I think Berber is also entitled to what Arabic and Latin and other (macro)languages already enjoy.

What would you advise me to do to be able soon to translate to Berber (ber) on translatewiki ?

Thanks a lot,

--Tussna 15:40, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Tussna‎

No localisations will be added for macro languages, so your request is denied. I refer to my previous answer. The localisation for 'arz' is actually based on its ISO 639-3 code. Whichever example you can name that predates the localisation policy in MediaWiki for the past few years, is water under the bridge. This is the current policy. Also see meta:Requests_for_new_languages/Wikipedia_Berber.

Siebrand‎

Yes I am aware of the rejection of the Berber Wikipedia project. But I am going to revive it.

(Their decision was based on the ISO code rationale which perceived Berber as a language group only, and not as a living language, and that is not really accurate. Berber is actually both a living language and a language group. There is a growing literature of it in Morocco).

Do I understand from you that a language needs to have an ISO 639-1 or an ISO- 639-3 in order to get included?

Best regards, --Tussna 17:14, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Tussna‎

It must at least not be a meta language, which Berber is. There are other criteria which are not relevant at the moment.

Siebrand‎

Well, I don't know about meta-languages. But I know that Berber is my mother tongue and that it's the mother tongue of millions of North Africans.

Could you please be more specific on the ISO 639-3 requirement, and the other requirements?

Best regards,

--Tussna 20:40, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Tussna‎

You call it Berber, linguists from ISO 639-3 appear to have a different opinion. I propose you take it up with ISO 639-3. We're done here as far as Berber is concerned.

Siebrand‎

Still wouldn't answer a simple question, ha.

I sensed your dismissive attitude about this topic since your 2nd reply. Don't know where it comes from.

Besides, I don't think you're familiar enough with the Berber language and the scholars' studies about it.

Berber is a natural living language. Its native name is "Tamazight", the only one I grew up with in my Moroccan town.

The English-speaking linguists (and the SIL people) usually have limited engagement with the Berber language and the Berber world in general (unlike their French and Dutch colleagues), so they adopted the view of "Berber languages" (impressed by accent differences) when in fact they're mostly looking at Berber dialects or regional variations that don't amount to full-blown languages. Whereas the French linguists very often consider it as one language with regional accents and dialects (André Basset : 1952)...etc.

I just heard today from a colleague that he is working on this with the SIL people, and hopefully Berber will get an additional ISO code soon and that will enable it to enjoy the same rights and privileges enjoyed by other languages like Arabic, which is by the way viewed as a macrolanguage by SIL (and it has 30 individual languages):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrolanguage#List_of_macrolanguages

http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/iso-639-3-macrolanguages_20100128.tab

Thanks for your time,

Regards,

--Tussna 23:28, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

Tussna‎