I thought this topic (from a post in the Russian forum) would be of interest to all.




Rotmistrov,
Thanks for the feedback. You're not the first to scratch their head in puzzlement concerning the creation of alternate language sites here on Armorama. I can only say that I probably view this site (as a web developer) a little different than the hobbyists who use it. I see it as a tool. An engine if you will, that can organize, prioritize, and sort content based on language, interest, and other factors. So for me it's more of an offer to those people who are half hobbyists/half webmasters (like me) to manage and build their own Armorama in their native tongue. Those are some good examples of Russian sites you gave. I had not seen the rumodelism.com site before now. It looks well done.

As to whether the English speaking group would benefit from having non-english speakers on the site, I think we do. OnDisplay items are one example as they don't really require any text. I think we have already had a pretty good success building a Portuguese community and recently an even stronger Dutch community, and I credit both of those by having the alternate language sites. Time will tell I guess.

When I think about these forums that are really unused for the most part, it makes me glad that a few courageous people decided to start posting here in December of 2001. What would have happened if they hadn't??

Cheers,
Jim

Jim,
Ive also just posted on the russian site (although I dont spaek a word of it)
This is what i posted-

Rotmistrov,

As Dutch Site Editor, I have to say that I am glad that there alternate language sites here.
It is true that there most of us can understand an communicate in English, but still I have heard of several people who where a bit afraid to ask things in a language that is not their own.

On the other hand, I, for example have a son of 9 who knows a little English but not enough to get around and he now looks at the Dutch section once or twice a week and loves to read the features and stuff that he can understand, he could even start to ask questions to the board (if he would only dare )

Another aspect of the ALS is the fact that you can create a community inside this worldwide community, we at the Dutch section have had the ability to meet some ArmoramA members on the modeling show and by creating this group we are also able to organize ArmoramA first participation to a Live modeling event.

This dos not mean that we are separate from ArmoramA, far from it, but what happens that a questions/discussion starts in the Dutch Forum and then can spoil over to the general forum on the site.

See it as a extension a extra pair of hands if you will.




How many speak Dutch or Portuguese? I also visit the Russian site and looked at the Features there, and believe me if I see something that I like, then I will find out




Yes, those recourses are there, but is it fair to exclude someone who would not be fluent in a another language??

I am very much in favour of the various language sites within Armorama. The next one that is needed is a Spanish site. I don't know about south and central America, but the sites here in Spain are total garbage... Not that they are intrinsically bad, its just that they are not updated from one year to another rendering them completely valueless. Unlike scandinavian countries or for example Holland, the general level of english here varies from poor to non-existent (unlike Portugal for example) and many spanish modellers I speak to are constantly bemoaning the fact that they cannot get into contact with others on the web.....Jim

Hi,

I'm one of the portuguese section editors and I agree with RoadKill, even if most of us can communicate in english, some aren't and others are not to at ease.

For other side I think that a community to survive must have a critical mass or other way it will disappear.

ArmoramA has allowed us to participate in a large community and opens the horizons, because those that prefer to communicate in its own language can do it and if needed one that's more at ease can take the topic to the international forum and so all can benefit from it.

As Jimbrae pointed there aren't to many spanish (it's also true for portuguese ones) forums because none of them, in my humble opinion, have been able to get the critical mass to stay up.

If you check AA we are almost 3000 members and for what I see there are about one hundred regulars and all the others came and go from time to time, and this way its possible to keep the community alive - not forgetting of course all to the hard work Jim (the webmaster) places here giving us always new features forus to use.

Make mine Tuag's words.
I'm confident (and I know what I'm saying) that the most important is to have a person to bring people to the forum, make it atractive to his community, and it demands some work.
Cheers