Wikimania 2024

Key Partner session: Silesian Wikipedia panel
08-10, 13:30–13:55 (Poland), Istanbul (10)
Language: English

Small Wikipedias and minority languages, using the Silesian Wikipedia as a case study. The session will cover the inception, development, and current state of the Silesian Wikipedia, highlighting key milestones, user motivations, and community engagement. We will explore the broader implications for other small Wikipedias and discuss strategies to overcome common hurdles, ensuring the sustainability and growth of these valuable linguistic resources.


The session will begin with a introduction to small Wikipedias, sharing intriguing facts about their activity levels, trends and usability. We will then focus on the Silesian language, its unique challenges across generations, and its representation on the Silesian Wikipedia.
An overview of the Silesian Wikipedia's history will follow, including its beginnings, its evolution over the years, early problems and administrative challenges, including standardization. We'll discuss the recent surge in activity, driven by factors like the formal status of the language, involvement of young enthusiasts, and various administrative actions.
Key achievements will be showcased, along with current statistics and analysis. We will examine the diverse motivations of its users and the status of the Silesian language, including efforts to standardize spelling and style.
The session will also highlight the Silesian Wikipedia's influence beyond the platform, in music, culture, education, and government projects. The discussion will culminate in addressing the significant challenges faced, such as content quality, edition revisions, and linguistic consistency.
We will conclude with broader generalizations applicable to other small Wikipedias, lessons learned from the Silesian Wikipedia, and future directions, focusing on maintaining high standards, effective administration, and community collaboration.

Session recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/e1PcBYNAWAo?feature=shared&t=15288


How does your session relate to the event themes: Collaboration of the Open?*

Partner session: Silesian Wikipedia panel

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?*

Everyone can participate in this session

How do you plan to deliver this session?*

Onsite in Katowice

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See also: Presentation

Tomasz Ludyga is a Silesian Wikipedia administrator interested in activity and usability of small Wikipedias.