Mozilla Firefox Translated to Maya Language Yucatan Times | |
go to original August 13, 2012 |
In the framework of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, 31 professionals from several parts of the State of Yucatan joined the Mayan translations Marathon “Mozilla Translathon 2012?, in the Hotel Residencial.
During the marathon the volunteers and linguists translated the Internet browser Mozilla Firefox in to the Mayan language, as well as 500 articles from Wikipedia and uploaded 10 articles to Google Endangered Languages Platform.
The activity was organized by the Civil Association “Nacnati” (Active Nation) supported by the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CDI), the Mozilla Foundation in Mexico and the Official Chapter Wikimedia Mexico.
The President of “Nacnati”, Julio Gomez Sanchez, explained that the purpose of this first “translathon” is to promote the use of the Maya language for its preservation and increase its Internet presence with translation software to Maya.
A year ago the Nacnati association began the translation of the Mozilla browser, and due to the arising interest it was decided to extend the translations of the browser, which can be consulted in the webpage www.mozilla-mexico.org.
Vicente Canché Moo, independent cultural promoter, commented that the 31 translators and experts in linguists, who attended the marathon, were anthropologists, lawyers, researchers, graduate students in Maya language and college students from the municipalities of Peto, Tekax, Valladolid, Halachó, Muna and Merida.
The cultural promoter said that without underestimating the print media, any other communication channel available to the people that strengthen their language should be used, such as the new technologies.
“Unfortunately, there is computer illiteracy, because not all communities have access to internet and other technologies, we make a call to organizations and government institutions to provide information to the indigenous communities about these new tools to contribute to the development of Mayan culture.”
Nacnati is currently working in 12 indigenous languages in Mexico; there are 7 already available through the Mozilla-mexico.org webpage. If any person wants to collaborate with the association, visit their website at www.nacnati.org.
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