Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/How-to-contribute-to-wiki-lessons-(FAQ)

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Write a lesson: Why? How? FAQ
Polyglot Language Lessons - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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The Polyglot Wiki allows you to share your language knowledge by creating or editing lessons.

In case you have questions, you can find answers here.

If the question is not listed, you can edit the page by creating a new question (and answer it if you have found an answer).

How can I start writing lessons?[edit | edit source]

To get started, see this beginner tutorial.

May I copy contents from other sites?[edit | edit source]

Duplicate Content[edit | edit source]

You can search for the information on the internet but NEVER COPY AND PASTE exactly the same content.

Google search engine can penalize your article and even the entire website (your article will not be visible on search engines results).

Duplicate content will have to be deleted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate_content

Copyright issues[edit | edit source]

Besides, sometimes content is protected by copyright. Under certain conditions (doctrine called "fair use"), copyrighted material can still be used. See fair use for more information. If the content is licensed under a public license that allows redistribution, you can use it without any concern.

"Sources" section[edit | edit source]

But if you think there is an image from another site that is really good, and its format is jpg, png or gif, then you can copy the image link and paste where you want. You need to check the page with your image link to see if the image is allowed to be used outside that site.

Also, if you were inspired by another webpage please write the page link in the "Sources" section at the bottom of your page.

What should be the minimum quality of a lesson?[edit | edit source]

When you write a language lesson, you will receive points.

To receive those points, here are the minimum quality requirements:

https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Help/Quality

You will also receive points if you correct existing lessons. You don't need to create a whole lesson.

What if I don't have enough time to create a whole lesson?[edit | edit source]

You can create an incomplete lesson. Other people will complete it.

Also, you can contribute to an existing lesson by adding content, correcting errors, and so on.

How can I add an image?[edit | edit source]

Help/Upload-a-Photo-How

How can I add a sound file?[edit | edit source]

Help/How-to-add-audio-files

How can I create a table?[edit | edit source]

Help/How-to-Write-a-Language-Lesson#Tables

How can I import a table?[edit | edit source]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Convert_tables_and_charts_to_wiki_code_or_image_files

How can I transpose a table?[edit | edit source]

Regretfully, this function can't be found here. You can rely on some other programs to do so.

How can I change the text format?[edit | edit source]

You can change the font or its size by inputting CSS code in the source.

Here is an example:

  • Result: YOUR CONTENT
    • size 20px,
    • font Times,
    • weight bold,
    • color red.


Use the following code (with the Edit Source tab on the top right of the page):

<span style="font-size:20px;font-family: Times;font-weight:bold;color: red">YOUR CONTENT</span>

How can I translate a lesson into another language?[edit | edit source]

You have created a lesson and you feel that this lesson is well completed and that there will not be many changes in the future:

Basically, what you have to do is edit the page using the "Edit source" tab and add the following code:

<languages />
<translate>
   YOUR ARTICLE TEXT
   INSIDE THE TRANSLATE TAGS
   A LANGUAGES TAG ON THE TOP
</translate>


Just add a <languages /> on the top (this will include links to change language) and insert the whole article text between an opening <translate> tag and a closing </translate> tag. Then, click on the link to "mark the page for translations".

How can I add a hyphen or a minus sign in the title?[edit | edit source]

The popular “-” [U+002D - HYPHEN-MINUS] will disappear in the title, but “‐” [U+2010 ‐ HYPHEN] and “−” [U+2212 - MINUS SIGN] won't.

Is there a quick way of creating or editing a page?[edit | edit source]

You can save the following text in a txt file and replace the bold text. Then, paste that URL in your browser's address bar.

https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/index.php?title=Language/LANGUAGE(e.g. English)/CATEGORY(e.g. Grammar)/TITLE(e.g. How-to-contribute-to-wiki-lessons-(FAQ))&action=edit

How can I contribute to a language which I totally don't know?[edit | edit source]

You can use translators freely. There may be errors, but other people will correct them. If you are not sure of a word meaning in a specific situation, you can enter the word in your known language at Wikipedia, and view the page in that language and vice versa.


It's precious if those languages relatively not popular are contributed too.

Is there a standard for the format of vocabulary?[edit | edit source]

It would be best to put vocabularies into tables, so that people can easily create spreadsheet files and memorise them with Anki or other programs.

There are suggested forms, for completeness and brevity. They are not compulsory.

In addition, write the word in the most common form. That is to say, when its common form is in lower case, better to write it in lower case.

If the word has a gender or more than one gender[edit | edit source]

Note the gender, unless there is a clear rule for the type of words described somewhere else. Note the gender with the definite article first if possible. For example:

  • French: l'arbre (m)
  • German: China
  • Spanish: el/la mar

If the word has irregular plural form[edit | edit source]

No need to note them if the irregular plural forms can be well explained somewhere else. For example:

  • English: locus
  • French: le pneu
  • German: das Auto

If the writing system is ideography[edit | edit source]

Note the pronunciation alongside. If there are more than one type of notation, choose the most accepted one. For example:

  • Japanese: 家具(かぐ)
  • Mandarin Chinese: 爆米花 (bàomǐhuā)
  • Yue Chinese: 衞生 (wai6 sang1)


Reversely, it is suggested to note the ideography if the vocabulary of the language is influenced by it, to represent its etymology. For example:

  • Korean: 다수 (多數)
  • Vietnamese: công tác (工作)

If the writing system is abjad[edit | edit source]

If possible, write the diacritics; otherwise write the transliteration alongside. If there are more than one type of notation, choose the most accepted one. For example:

  • Hebrew: (m) יָרָק
  • Iranian Persian: (qatâr) قطار
  • Standard Arabic: (m) خَشَب‎

If there are more than one writing system currently used in the language[edit | edit source]

The early one is placed before the later one. For example:

  • Javanese: ꦧꦚꦸ / banyu
  • Mandarin Chinese: 還是/还是 (háishì)
  • Serbian: брод / brod (m)

The reason of not sorting by popularity is that the popularity may be very similar or may be hard to get to know and may change with time.

For Mandarin Chinese, according to the rule above, the ROC form is placed before the PRC form including the pronunciation.

If there are different words used in different regions[edit | edit source]

The form used in the origin of the language is placed before the other regions'. If there are more than two regions, note with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes or other explanations. For example:

  • English: metre / meter
  • German: der Fuß / der Fuss
  • Portuguese: a descolagem / a decolagem
  • For Mandarin Chinese, the ROC form is placed before the PRC form.
  • For Korean, the ROK form is placed before the DPRK form.

What is the difference between a lesson in “Multiple Languages” and lessons in specific languages?[edit | edit source]

Lessons in “Multiple Languages” focus on the similarities and differences between languages, while lessons in specific languages focus on the details, such as the usage and the origin, in those languages.

How can I find all the lessons for a specific cathegory?[edit | edit source]

There are 5 main cathegories:

  • Culture
  • Grammar
  • Pronunciation
  • Tips
  • Vocabulary

To list the lessons belonging to one of the category, type the following URL in the address bar of your navigator:

  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/[LANGUAGE NAME]/[CATHEGORY NAME]

Example for English :

  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Culture
  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Grammar
  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Pronunciation
  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Tips
  • https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/Multiple-languages/Vocabulary

How can I find all the lessons to learn a specific language?[edit | edit source]

Go to this page: https://polyglotclub.com/language/wiki

and type the language name under "Read the Latest Lessons:".

How can I find lessons for a specific level?[edit | edit source]

You cannot select a level yet.

Related Lessons[edit | edit source]

Contributors

Maintenance script


Create a new Lesson