African Web Language Survey Workshop

The Language Observatory (Japan), the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) and Linguasphere Observatory (UK) have been collaborating on a African Web Languages Survey Project since the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held from 14-18 November 2005. It coincided with the launch of the African ICT Week initiated by African Union Commission.

It is in this context that a seminar is held in Bamako (Mali) from 26 to 28 June 2006, bringing together web and language experts from Japan, Nigeria, France, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Gabon, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Algeria, Switzerland and Thailand.

Objectives of the web language survey project are:

1. To get the most accurate language map of the African cyberspace and the status of the "digital divide" one the African continent, and to raise public awareness about it;
2. To demonstrate the usefulness of multi-stakeholder collaboration under the umbrella of the World Network for Linguistic Diversity.

Expected deliverables of the project are:

1. Language Map of African Cyberspace (Cyberspace Language Census Report): To show how many pages are written in each language, under each country domain;
2. Web Usage Maturity Analysis Report: To show how web technology is used under each country domain. For example, web links, web maintenance, server technology, open source software usage, etc.;
3. Web Infrastructure Report: To show network performance and geographical locations of web servers.