Welsh Wikipedia facts for kids
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Type of site
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Internet encyclopedia project |
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| Available in | Welsh |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida |
| Owner | Wikimedia Foundation |
| Website | cy.wikipedia.org |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Optional |
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Content license
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Creative Commons Attribution/ Share-Alike 4.0 (most text also dual-licensed under GFDL) Media licensing varies |
The Welsh Wikipedia (called Wicipedia Cymraeg in Welsh) is the version of Wikipedia written in the Welsh language. It started in July 2003. This online encyclopedia is a very important resource for Welsh speakers. It is the only website of its kind in Welsh. Every month, it gets about 2.7 million visits. This makes it the most popular Welsh language website. It plays a big role in Welsh online culture.
Contents
What is the Welsh Wikipedia?
The Welsh Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia. It is created and updated by volunteers. It helps share knowledge in the Welsh language. It is a part of the larger Wikipedia family.
How it Grew Over Time
The Welsh Wikipedia has grown a lot since it began.
- On 23 June 2007, it reached 10,000 articles. It was the 66th Wikipedia to do so.
- By 20 November 2008, it had 20,000 articles.
- Less than a year later, on 28 October 2009, it reached 25,000 articles.
- In July 2013, it achieved 50,000 articles.
Today, it is the 42nd largest Wikipedia edition.
Why Small Language Wikipedias Matter
The Welsh Wikipedia is very important for keeping the Welsh language alive. Jimmy Wales, a co-founder of Wikipedia, once explained this idea. He said that even if many Welsh speakers also know English, people want a Welsh Wikipedia. They create it to preserve their mother tongue. They also want to keep its literature and culture strong. This shows how collaborative projects can help protect languages and cultures.
Supporting the Welsh Language Online
The Welsh Wikipedia is recognized as a key online resource. The National Library of Wales lists it as an important Welsh-language e-resource. It has also been mentioned in Welsh magazines like Golwg. The Welsh version of the Mozilla Firefox web browser even links directly to the Welsh Wikipedia. It is the first recommended website on its "Getting Started" page.
Community and Contributions
In September 2012, a group called "Wici Cymru" was formed. This society works to help Wikipedia grow in Wales. The famous actor Rhys Ifans became its patron in October 2012. Most articles on the Welsh Wikipedia are written from scratch. They are not just translations of articles from the English Wikipedia.
How Schools Help
Many editors of the Welsh Wikipedia are students. They learn Welsh in bilingual school programs. Sometimes, IP addresses from schools are temporarily blocked. This happens if there are issues with how content is added. However, when Wikipedia managers visit schools to teach students how to contribute properly, these blocks are usually lifted. This helps students learn and contribute safely.
Different Perspectives on Topics
The Welsh Wikipedia sometimes shows different ways of describing certain topics. This reflects the unique perspectives of its community. For example, how it describes places or events might be different from the English Wikipedia. This shows how different language communities can have their own viewpoints. The site uses Wikidata to help organize information.
Interesting Facts and Achievements
In 2019, the Welsh Wikipedia helped improve Google Translate. It provided a large amount of Welsh text that computers could read. This helped Google Translate learn more about the Welsh language.
A Balanced View of Biographies
Most Wikipedia editors are men, including on the English Wikipedia. However, the Welsh Wikipedia has a more balanced number of articles about men and women. In 2019, about half of its biographies were about women. This is a much higher percentage than on the English Wikipedia.
In 2023, the Welsh Wikipedia helped create a pronunciation map for Welsh place-names. This tool helps people learn how to say Welsh place names correctly.
See also
In Spanish: Wikipedia en galés para niños
- Encyclopaedia Cambrensis
- Encyclopaedia of Wales
- Breton Wikipedia
