IETF Internationalised Domain Name mailing list: calling for more Asia voices

[tinwee@pobox.org.sg]

Dear IDN IETFers, idns-list@idns.org and colleagues in INFITT
(infitt@onelist.com) and APNG (apng-all@apng.org)

idn@ops.ietf.org
The Internationalised Domain Name mailing list is a place where 
a lot of intensive discussion is going on. The outcome is likely to
determine the future of how and whether domain names can appear in our
own languages. This has serious implications for education and e-commerce
in our countries. However, there doesn't seem to be too many Asian
voices in this mailing list.

To clarify the situation, I would like to explain that
there are many Asians who wish to voice their
comments on the IDN but are unable to do so because this is
conducted in English, which is frequently a second language to them
at best. Certain nuances in the rapid-fire exchanges between key
discussants may be lost to them. Moreover, the often robust exchanges
common on the IETF mailing lists are culturally not acceptable to
Asians, unless they have been "westernised" to some degree.

Recently, at a Beijing meeting, key Internet "elders" in the Asia Pacific,
have concluded that to promote such discussions among the various Asian
peoples, we have to allow them to use their own language in the preliminary
stage at least, before requesting them to consolidate their responses
and translate into English, and vice versa.

As a result, we are in the process of trying to set up for starters,
a Chinese DN discussion mtg for the Chinese speaking community,
and hopefully in future, one for Japanese, and one for Korean.
We have another forthcoming meeting for the Tamil speaking community,
at Colombo. Tamil speaking Interneters have the INFITT@onelist.com
mailing list where the discussion is taking place on wider issues
on Tamil Internetisation, including a lot of technical discussion
carried out in both English and Tamil. I would like to encourage them
to join in the IDN mailing list.

Bestrgds

Tin Wee
 
        



James Seng wrote:
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> There has been some very lively discussion on Internationalised Domain Names
> at the IETF IDN mailing list idn@ops.ietf.org. Discussion on many issues but
> primarly focusing on the European Latin problems.
> 
> It occurs to me that we need more Asian voices in the mailing list. Afterall,
> this is the place where the movement started and it would be unfortunately if
> the final results has no consideration for Asian languages.
> 
> I would seriously suggest everyone here to join the mailing lists and to give
> your views and opinions. To join the mailing list, send an email to
> idn-request@ops.ietf.org with the word "subscribe".
> 
> -James Seng