New gTLDs and Endangered Languages

Home / Blogs

New gTLDs and Endangered Languages

By Jean Guillon New gTLDs "only".
December 14, 2011 Views: 17,004 Comments: 3

While exploring the UNESCO’s interactive atlas of the world’s languages in danger, I am happy to see that new generic Top-Level Domains could help save some of these languages.

.CAT for Catalan language already exist;
.BZH will probably have the “Breton” language to help survive;
“Basque” is vulnerable but there is a .EUS initiative;
.CORSICA will certainly help the “Corsican” language to develop;
.BOURGOGNE will possibly help the Burgundian;
.CHAMPAGNE would definitely help the “Champenois” but note I am not sure it is the language it would help first ;-)

.CYM, .GAL and .SCOT also exist in other countries.

UNESCO Interactive Atlas – displaying world’s languages in danger

By Jean Guillon, New gTLDs "only".

Filed Under

Comments

Catalan as endangered language? Nacho Amadoz – Dec 16, 2011 8:07 AM

Catalan as endangered language?

Quite out of touch, IMHO. I understand that the purpose of your article is to raise awareness about how new gTLDs could help underserved languages on the Internet. Praiseworthy intention. But oversimplification is most of the times more harmful than helpful.

# 1 Reply | Link | Report Problems

Catalan Jean Guillon – Dec 16, 2011 11:37 AM

Actually you are right, Catalan is not listed as endangered but oversimplification, as you right, helps potential new gTLD applicants to understand new gTLDs are: it is like using “top-level domains” instead of “domain name extensions”. The second one here is much better understood when it turns to explaining what we are talking about.

By the way, how is eclid doing?

# 2 Reply | Link | Report Problems

Great Step Gideon Rop – Dec 20, 2011 1:37 PM

Internet would have been the last place to see saving the endangered languages , however this provision is good as it not only redeems the languages but also provides an opportunity for more research and online presence. Thats why none is supposed to waste this watershed moment given to netizens by ICANN.

# 3 Reply | Link | Report Problems

The Weekly Wrap

More and more professionals are choosing to publish critical posts on CircleID from all corners of the Internet industry. If you find it hard to keep up daily, consider subscribing to our weekly digest. We will provide you a convenient summary report once a week sent directly to your inbox. It's a quick and easy read.