N'Ko on the web: Review of experience with ebola FAQ

Here's a quick recap of the demonstration of (experiment with) posting the N'Ko text of a WHO FAQ on ebola. Shortly after I posted it, I wrote "There would seem to be no reason not to use the internet for dissemination of webpages and mobile content about ebola in N'Ko, ..." Then Charles Riley of Yale University and Athinkra LLC pointed out some problems. And I found others.

I stand by that estimation, but after some tedious work on formatting and font coding in HTML, do so with greater emphasis on the caveats: "... although there would need to be attention to testing of commonly used systems and of ways to feed or facilitate loading of fonts that include N'Ko."

A summary of findings and lessons learned follows, but first a quick recap of what I did. My first attempt was to copy-past N'Ko text from a PDF of the FAQ on ebola, which as previously mentioned, did not work (RTL text was switched to LTR; character order was mixed, and combining diacritics sometimes not combined). Working from the Word document original, in contrast, was deceptively easy since I was working in Firefox (FF) ver. 32 - copy-paste into the "Compose" screen on Blogger, fix some bullets and do some minor formatting and voilà!

Problems were identified in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and Chrome 37 (mostly white boxes but some strings of text), and FF (some alignment of combining diacritics used to mark tones). Varying font commands inherited from the Word source document caused the irregular display of characters, and were fixed (an alternative to try later would be an unformatted text paste). 

However, while this work facilitated a correct display of diacritics on FF 32.02 and MSIE 8 on a computer running Windows XP, the diacritics were all off the mark in FF 32.03 and MSIE 11 on a Windows 7 system (the latter did not have the DejaVu fonts installed, which might be the problem there).

Lessons learned so far:

• align="left" - Full justification of N'Ko text may space the combining diacritics as if they were characters, leading to misalignment.
• Font choice/availability - N'Ko text display seems especially sensitive to font commands. Do not have an answer to why formatted text from a Word document pasted into Blogger looked fine in FF but not in MSIE 8 or Chrome. Installation of a font with N'Ko support may help.
• Browsers may not be the main issue - Despite initially encountering display issues in MSIE 8 and Chrome more than FF, those could be corrected in the source code. Also, the fact that the most current FF (32.03) and MSIE (11) misplace all diacritics on a computer without a particular font (DejaVu) points back to the font issue. 
• But browsers are not not an issue - The N'Ko script normally shows liaisons between characters within words (somewhat like Arabic), but while these show on FF, they did not on MSIE
• No bold or italics - Bold N'Ko is apparently not supported by the DejaVu font. Italics are, but while those did display on FF 32, they would not on MSIE 8.

Next steps

This has been a learning experience, but it should be pointed out that with sites like Kanjamadi, N'Ko on the internet is a reality and a potential to be pursued, even as there are issues. (Kanjamadi displays impressively on the same FF32 on XP that did great with the WHO ebola FAQ, but cannot load in MSIE 8 and has the same diacritic problems on MSIE 11 on the Windows 7 machine mentioned above).

Before posting more in N'Ko, it would be helpful to have more feedback on display issues for this script in function of available fonts, browsers, and operating systems.

Next steps should have as their goal a simple how-to for organizations wanting to display text in N'Ko on the web - whether for ebola education or any other useful purpose. Similar localization guides could be developed for other West African languages as well.

Where has that word been all these years?

Recently had an interesting conversation in Philadelphia with Coleman Donaldson, who just completed his master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, writing his thesis on aspects of the history of N'Ko.* One anecdote he shared stuck with me - how a Manding speaker read a word written in N'Ko that brought tears to his eyes, as he'd last heard that from his mother when he was 15. There's a lot wrapped up in a reaction like that, but one question that has stayed with me is what happened to that word in all the years in between?

That is taking a certain liberty with the story, and it is certainly true that in any language and culture, someone may hear something infrequently used years apart and react to it strongly. But in a world where many unwritten and policy-neglected languages are contracting, the thought I had was that the spoken language alone may not keep the range of expression that it had been able to in earlier times. How many words are lost through lack of use in speech, lack of teaching, and not being written and read?

A humorous account of an exchange in Mali about the Bambara word for indigo-dyed cloth - galafini - and some tailors' ignorance of it is another case in point, but this is not an esoteric term or rare concept in the context it was discussed. I personally recall being surprised when in Niger to find a native Fulfulde speaker who knew only the locution neɗɗo mo yiyataa (person who can't see) for blind person, and not the word bumɗo in his language (derived from the root wum- etc.). I also remember when in Guinea in the mid-1980s hearing co-workers my age saying that their elders could hold a conversation in front of them in their common language (Pular) that they could not fully understand, due to terms and expressions used that they did not know.

So, what if the man in the anecdote (as I heard it) did not read that particular word in N'Ko and it had never been written down (except perhaps in an academic publication or two in shelved in university libraries in Europe and America)? And in that way, that that particular word and concept was lost to him, and became progressively forgotten in the speech community? Could it effectively be lost entirely?

Such loss of words - and hence range of expression - must have a cost to speakers of the affected languages and to their communities and societies at large. It arguably may not be too far from the Orwellian "Newspeak" in impact, though as a process not as a project.

How many efforts are there in Africa that successfully counter such language contraction, as N'Ko seems to be doing for Manding?

More on N'Ko

I have mentioned N'Ko on this blog previously, but here are three important aspects in addition to its being a script invented in 1949 by Souleymane Kanté in Guinea that are worth knowing:

1. N'Ko is also a kind of "koiné," or emerging standard, of the Manding languages of several countries in West Africa, which is expressed in a growing number of publications. Manding is a subgroup of Mande languages that include several highly mutually intelligible languages, notably: Several varieties of Maninka and Mandinka, which Ethnologue groups as the Mandingo "macrolanguage"; Bambara; and Jula.
2. Tone markings are integral to the system, not optional as in the Latin-based orthographies (where they are generally omitted except in dictionaries). This feature allows for distinctions not only between words with different tones, but also use of tones affecting meaning in phrases.
3. N'Ko is also a movement, involving people volunteering time to teach others and distribute materials. From the point of view of someone who has worked in and studied community development, this is remarkable. (I personally first learned of this aspect of N'Ko in Bamako in 2000 on meeting one activist, Sounkalo Dembele, who was at the time making trips to various villages near the city on his own time to teach N'Ko classes.)

______
* "Colonial and Islamic Language Policy and the Birth of N'Ko in Postwar French West Africa," 2015

WHO FAQ on ebola, in N'Ko

"N'Ko" written in N'Ko

N'Ko is a script used mainly for Manding languages of West Africa, as well as an effort to create standardized form of those largely mutually intelligible languages.

I've reproduced below a translation into N'Ko of a FAQ on Ebola provided by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, which was done by Boubacar Diakité and Baba Mamadi Diané.This was one of the translations mentioned in a previous post on this blog that have been facilitated by Athinkra, LLC. (Thanks to Charles Riley for his help.)

N'Ko was invented by Soulemayne Kante in Guinea in 1949. Although it is not officially recognized by any government, its use has been spread by grassroots education efforts in several countries in West Africa. It is written right to left, and includes tone marks.

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ߢߌ߬ߣߌ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߟߌ߬ ߛߌߦߊߡߊ߲ ߡߍ߲ ߦߋ߫ ߞߍ߫ ߟߊ߫ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߢߐߛߌ ߟߊߞߏߘߐ߫

ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߢߐߛߌ ߦߋ߫ ߡߎ߲߬ ߘߌ߫؟

ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߦߋ߫ ߓߣߊ߬ߖߎ߰ ߜߍߟߍ߲߫ ߞߟߊߞߟߊߡߊ ߘߏ߫ ߟߋ߬ ߘߌ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߛߌߦߊߡߊ߲ ߘߐ߫ ߊ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߝߊ߰ ߟߊ߫ ߟߋ߬ ߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߢߊߕߍ߯ߘߐߡߊ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߕߍ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߘߌ߫ ߸ ߦߏ߫ ( ߜߐ߲߭، ߥߏ߬ߘߏ߲، ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߞߏ߲ߞߏߡߐ߰ߣߍ߲ )߸ ߞߵߏ ߞߎ߲߭ ߞߍ߫ ߊ߬ߟߋ߬ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ߫ ߢߐߛߌ߫ ߞߟߊߞߟߊߡߊ ߞߍ ߘߌ߫ ߞߵߊ߬ߟߎ߬ ߟߊߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬، ߓߣߊ߬ ߞߟߊ߬ߞߟߊ߬ߡߊ߬ߓߊ߫ ߟߋ߬߸ ߡߍ߲ ߦߋ߫ ߝߊ߰ߟߌ ߞߍ߫ ߟߊ߫ ߌߞߘߐ߫ ߸ ߞߏ߬ߣߌ߲߬ ߊ߬ ߓߴߛߋ߫ ߡߊߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ ߟߊ߫.

ߖߊ߲߬ߞߊߙߏ ߣߌ߲߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߍ߲ߛߍ߲߫ ߠߊ߫ ߘߌ߬؟

ߢߐߛߌ ߣߌ߲߬ ߡߊߞߍ߫ ߦߙߐ߫ ߛߎ߲ߞߎ߲ߡߊ ߟߐ߲ߣߍ߲߫ ߕߍ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߘߏ߲߬ ߞߍߟߌ ߞߊ߬ ߡߐ߰ ߡߌ߬ߘߊ߬ ߝߟߐ ߞߍ߫ ߏ߬ ߘߐߞߣߍߣߍ߲߫ ߕߍ߫، ߞߏ߬ߣߌ߲߬ ߊ߬ ߛߌߦߊߡߊ߲ ߘߐ߫ ߸ ߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߐ߰ ߝߟߐ ߡߍ߲ ߟߊߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬ ߏ߬ ߞߍߣߍ߲߫ ߣߌߡߊߝߋ߲߫ ߓߣߊ߬ߓߊ߰ߕߐ ߘߏ߫ ߟߋ߬ ߛߌߟߊ ߝߍ߬.

ߝߣߊ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߢߐߛߌ ߓߴߛߋ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߟߊߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬ ߠߴߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߡߌ߬ߣߊ߬ߣߍ߲ ߡߊ߰ߢߐ߲߰ߠߊ ߘߐ߫ ߸ ߊ߬ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ߬ߡߊ߬ ߖߌ ߣߌ߫ ߖߋ߬ߟߌ ߣߌ߫ ߘߊߖߌ ߣߌ߫ ߞߐߡߊߕߊ߮ ߣߌ߫ ߕߙߊߖߌ ߣߌ߫ ߘߏ߫ ߜߘߍ߫ ߟߎ߫ ߛߌߟߊ ߝߍ߬ ߜߍ ߘߐ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߤߊߟߌ߬ ߓߣߊ߬ߓߊ߰ߕߐ ߟߊ߫ ߝߊ߬ߣߌ߲߬ ߣߐ߯ߣߍ߲ ߟߊߓߊ߯ߙߊ ߛߌߟߊ ߝߍ߬.

ߊ߬ ߓߴߛߋ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߟߊߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬ ߠߊ߫ ߝߋ߲߫ ߜߘߍ߫ ߟߎ߫ ߛߌߟߊ ߝߍ߬߸ ߦߏ߫ ߛߊ߬ߦߌ߬ߟߊ߲ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߡߊߣߐߘߐ߲ߞߐߣߍ߲߫ ߊ߬ ߕߌ߰ߟߊ߬ߡߐ߮ ߡߊ߬ߖߌ ߟߎ߬ ߟߊ߫.

ߊ߬ ߞߐ߯ߟߌ ߞߎ߲߬ߕߊ߮ ߕߋ߬ߟߊ߫ ߂-߂߁

ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߕߐ߰ߡߊ߬ߛߙߋ ߣߴߊ߬ ߥߟߏߒߡߊߞߏ ߟߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߡߎ߲߬ ߘߌ߫؟

• ߝߊ߬ߘߌ߬ߜߊ
• ߝߣߐ
• ߞߣߐߓߏߙߌ
• ߞߊ߲ߠߊߓߊ߯ߣߍ߲
• ߞߎ߬ߘߋ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߝߛߊ߬ ߘߌߡߌ߲
• ߞߣߐߘߌߡߌ߲
• ߞߎ߲߬ߘߌߡߌ߲
• ߡߊߞߌ߬ߛߍߞߌ߬ߛߍ
• ߝߊ߬ߘߌ ߡߊߞߌ߬ߛߍߞߌ߬ߛߍ ߣߌ߫ ߢߊߞߌߛߍ ߥߎ߬ߟߋ߲߬ߠߌ߲߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߛߌ߬ߞߏ߲ߕߌ ߣߌ߫ ߖߋ߬ߟߌ߬ߓߐ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ ߡߊ߬߸ ߏ߬ ߓߍ߯ ߦߴߊ߬ ߥߟߏߢߊ ߘߏ߫ ߟߋ߬ ߘߌ߫ ߖߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߙߏ߬ߕߐ ߡߊ߬.

ߊ߬ ߘߌ߫ ߛߋ߫ ߡߊߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߘߌ߬؟

• ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊߕߐ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ߬ߡߊ߬ߖߌ ߕߋߟߋ߲ߒߡߊ߫ ߡߊ߲߯ߢߐ߲߯ߦߊ ߡߊߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ ߸ ߥߟߴߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߛߊ߬ߓߊ߰ߕߐ ߡߊߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ ߓߟߏߡߊߘߏ߲ ߠߊ߫߸ ߡߊ߬ߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߲߬ ߢߟߊ ߟߊ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߞߎ߲߬ߡߊ߬ߘߏ߲ ߠߊ߫.
• ߞߊ߬ ߕߊ߯ ߡߐ߱ ߡߊߟߐ߬ ߜߋߙߋ߲ߜߋߙߋ߲ߦߘߊ ߡߊߛߎߘߎ߲ ߘߏ߫ ߟߊ߫ ߖߏߣߊ߫߸ ߕߎ߲߬ߞߎ߬ߙߎ߲߬ ߞߍߣߍ߲߫ ߡߍ߲ ߠߊ߫ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊߕߐߦߊ ߟߊ߫߸ ߛߊ߫ ߞߊ߬ ߘߐ߰ߘߏ߲߬ ߞߍ߫ ߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߖߏߣߊ߫. ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊߕߐ ߡߊ߰ߢߐ߲߰ߠߊ߬ߓߊ߮ ߟߎ߫ ߣߐ߬ߝߍ߬ߓߐߟߌ ߣߴߊ߬ߟߎ߫ ߜߋ߬ߟߎ߲߬ߠߌ߲ ߦߋ߫ ߏ߬ ߘߐ߫ ߞߏ߫ ߞߘߎ߬ߜߍߟߍ߲ ߠߋ߬ ߘߌ߫.
• ߊ߬ߟߋ߬ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߞߍߣߍ߲߫ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߛߕߊ ߘߌ߫߸ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߟߊߘߊ߬ߙߏ߬ ߡߊ߬ߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߝߋ߲߫ ߝߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߡߊ ߟߎ߫ ߟߋ߬ ߟߊߓߊ߯ߙߊ ߘߐ߫߸ ߞߊ߬ ߕߊ߯ ߊ߬ߟߎ߫ ߛߎ߬ߘߏ߲߬ ߌߞߘߐ߫.
• ߕߎ߲߬ߞߎߙߎ߲߫ ߞߍߣߍ߲߫ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊߞߏ ߡߊ߬߸ ߞߊ߬ ߥߊ߫ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߡߊߓߏ߬ߙߌ߬ ߜߋߙߋ߲ߜߋߙߋ߲ߦߘߊ߫ ߡߊߛߎߘߎ߲ ߠߊ߫ ߖߏߣߊ߫.
• ߕߎ߲߬ߞߎ߬ߙߎ߲߬ ߓߊ߯ ߞߍ߫ ߞߏ߫ ߊ߬ ߗߏ߯ߦߊ ߘߏ߫ ߦߋ߫ ߡߍ߲ ߠߊ߫ ߘߐߙߐ߲߫߸ ߞߵߏ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߓߣߊ߬ߓߊ߰ߕߐ ߕߐ߭ ߟߎ߬ ߓߐ߫ ߢߐ߲߮ ߞߊ߲߬߸ ߞߵߊ߬ ߟߊߞߋ߲߬ߛߎ߬ ߛߍߡߦߊ ߛߋߒߞߏߟߦߊ ߞߐ߬ߣߐߡߊ߬ ߞߋߟߋ߲ߘߌ߫.
• ߘߊ߲ߘߊߛߏ ߓߊ߯ߙߟߊ ߓߍ߯ ߣߌ߫ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߛߎ߲ߞߎ߲ ߞߊ߬ߟߊߡߦߊ߬ߟߌ ߟߋ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫߸ ߊ߬ ߣߴߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߞߟߊߞߟߊߡߦߊ ߛߌߟߊ ߟߎ߬. ߓߌ߲ߓߌ߲ߠߌ߲߫ ߞߙߍߞߙߍߣߍ߲߫ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߞߍ߫ ߞߍߢߊ߫ ߣߊ߬ߕߐ ߢߌ߲߬ ߠߎ߫ ߟߐ߬ߞߎ߬ߟߌ ߞߊ߲߬: ߦߏ߫ ߣߊ߬ߝߏߟߏ߲ ߛߐ߰ߟߌ߸ ߖߋ߬ߟߌ߸ ߟߊ߬ߓߎ߬ߦߌ߬ߟߌ߸ ߘߐ߬ߛߏ߬ߛߏ߬ߟߌ߸ ߝߙߋ߬ߞߋ߬ߘߐ߬ߦߊ ߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߛߏ߬ߛߏ߬ߟߌ߬ ߕߙߏߞߏ ߟߎ߬߸ ߣߌ߲߬ ߓߍ߯ ߦߋ߫ ߞߍ߫ ߛߍߡߦߊ ߞߎ߬ߙߎ߲߬ߘߎ ߘߊ߲߬ߠߊߕߍ߰ߣߍ߲ ߠߎ߫ ߞߐ߬ߣߐߡߊ߬.

ߡߐ߱ ߞߋ߬ߟߋ߲߬ߞߋ߬ߟߋ߲߬ߠߊ߫ ߓߍ߯ ߣߴߊ߬ ߕߊ߫ ߘߎ߲߬ߘߎ߬ߡߊ߬ ߓߟߏߡߊߘߏ߲߸ ߞߎ߲߬ߡߊ߬ߘߏ߲߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߡߊ߬ߕߊ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߲߬ ߢߟߊ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߞߍ߫، ߝߣߊ߫߸ ߏ߬ ߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ ߡߎߙߊ߲߫ ߟߊߓߊ߯ߙߊߣߍ߲߫ ߟߊߝߟߌ߬ߓߊߟߌ ߟߎ߬ ߡߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߟߊߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ ߝߋߎ߫߸ ߝߏ߫ ߣߴߊ߬ߟߎ߬ ߟߊߢߐߛߌߒߕߊ߲ߧߊ߫ ߘߊ߫.

• ߊ߬ߟߋ߬ ߖߊ߲߬ߞߊߙߏ ߘߌ߫ ߛߋ߫ ߟߊߖߍ߲ߛߍ߲߫ ߠߊ߫ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊߕߐ ߟߊ߫ ߝߊ߰ߣߌ߲߬ ߣߐ߯ߣߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߛߌߟߊ ߝߍ߬߸ ߥߟߴߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߟߊߝߋ߲߫ ߟߊߒߞߣߐ ߟߎ߫ ߝߍ߬߸ ߏ߬ ߞߏߛߐ߲߫ ߝߏ߫ ߞߵߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߢߐߛߌߒߕߊ߲ߧߊ߫ ߟߋ߬.
• ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߓߘߊ߫ ߡߊ߰ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ߲߬ߘߌ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߟߊ߫߸ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߦߴߊ߬ߟߎ߬ ߞߊߘߊ߲߫ ߞߙߊߕߊߕߊ߫ ߞߵߊ߬ߟߎ߬ ߛߏߡߐ߮ ߟߎ߬ ߡߊߜߍ߲߫ ߖߊ߲߬ߞߊߙߏ ߣߌ߲߬ ߛߎ߲ߞߎ߲ ߞߎ߲߬ߠߊ߬ߝߎߟߋ߲ ߠߊ߫ ߓߘߍߞߍ߭߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߝߍ߬ߙߍ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߛߌ߰ ߛߋ߲߬ߞߊ߲߬ ߊ߬ ߡߊ߲߬ߕߊߣߌ߲ ߘߟߊߞߎ߬ߘߎ ߘߐ߫ ߜߎߕߙߎ߬، ߞߵߏ߬ ߟߴߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߝߊ߰ߣߍ߲ ߠߎ߫ ߛߎ߬ߘߏ߲ ߞߍߢߊ ߞߊ߲߬. ߊ߬ߟߋ߬ ߛߊߦߌߘߊ߲ߜߊ ߞߍߣߍ߲߫ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߬ ߛߕߊ ߘߌ߫߸ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߫ ߛߎ߬ߘߏ߲ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߠߋ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߟߞߊߟߌߦߊ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߝߊ߲ߕߊ߲ߞߊ߫ ߞߐ߲ߞߐ߲ ߞߐ߬ߣߐߡߊ߬.

ߟߊ߬ߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬ߠߌ߲

ߌߞߏߡߌ߲߬ ߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߡߐ߰ ߟߊ߬ߛߐ߬ߘߐ߲߬ߧߊ߬ ߝߟߐ ߦߋ߫ ߡߊ߰ߟߌ ߟߋ߬ ߘߌ߫ ߞߟߊߞߟߊߡߊ ߟߊ߫߸ ߖߋ߬ߟߌ ߘߐ߫߸ ߓߎ߬ߦߌ߬ߕߊ ߘߐ߫߸ ߊ߬ ߣߌ߫ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ߬ߡߊ߬ߖߌ ߘߐ߫߸ ߏ߬ ߞߏߛߐ߲߬ ߡߐ߱ ߟߎ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߞߊ߬ ߕߏ߫ ߜߋ߬ߟߎ߲߬ߠߌ߲߬ ߜߘߋߜߘߋ ߞߐ߬ߣߐߡߊ߬ ߡߍ߲ ߠߎ߫ ߕߘߍ߬ ߓߣߊ߬ߓߊ߰ߕߐ ߛߋ߲߬ߘߐ߫ ߛߌߟߊ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߫ ߝߍ߬߸ ߞߵߊ߬ߟߎ߫ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ ߜߊ߲߬ߘߌ߬ߦߊ ߡߊߝߟߍ߫ ߕߋ߬ߟߋ ߞߘߐ߫ ߛߋ߲߬ߧߊ߫ ߝߌ߬ߟߊ߬، ߞߊ߬ߕߎ߲߯ ߸ ߞߵߊ߬ߟߎ߬ ߟߊߘߏ߲߬ ߘߊ߲ߘߊߛߏ ߟߊ߫ ߞߊߟߌߦߊ߫ ߘߐ߫ ߌߞߘߐ߫ ߣߴߊ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߘߊ߫ ߞߏ߫ ߊ߬ ߝߊ߬ߘߌ߬ߜߊ ߢߐ߲߰ ߦߴߊ߬ ߘߏ߫ ߟߊ߫.

ߟߊ߬ߝߛߊ߬ߟߌ ߣߌ߫ ߟߊ߬ߛߋ߬ߟߌ ߓߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߢߐ߲߰ߡߊ߬ߘߊ

ߜߋߟߋ߲ߜߋߟߋ߲߫ ߝߙߍߕߍ : +߄߇߂ ߄߁߃ ߉߄߂߀، + ߂߄߂ ߀߆ ߆߁߄ ߂߄߀߁

ߢߎߡߍߙߋ߲ߞߏ߲ߘߏ : afrgodrdcam@who.int

Source: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa

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Addendum (24 Sept. 2014): 
The main reasons for posting this are: demonstration; and facilitation of review, reading, revisions, and re-use (4 R's?) of the text. A secondary purpose was to test support for the N'Ko script.

N'Ko was added to Unicode in July 2006, which is what makes it possible to post and read it in a blog like this. However, posting the text presented an unexpected challenge, since copying and pasting from the PDF made available by Athinkra on its site resulted in problems, including reversal of the right-to-left text to left-to-right. Pasting from Word document version supplied by Charles Riley held the text formatting without problem (there were minor issues with bullets and indents).

On the whole, it is impressive what one can do on current systems. There would seem to be no reason not to use the internet for dissemination of webpages and mobile content about ebola in N'Ko, although there would need to be attention to testing of commonly used systems and of ways to feed or facilitate loading of fonts that include N'Ko. 

Addendum (25 Sept. 2014): 

After some helpful observations from Charles Riley on display of this post in different browsers, I've revised some of the HTML and the N'Ko text should now be readable on more systems. I'll write about lessons learned in an upcoming post on this blog. [See here.]

Graphics arrangement for posters in Arabic & N'Ko

Localization primarily concerns language - translation from a source language to a target language - but also requires attention to cultural dimensions of communication and presentation of images. One aspect that apparently has been overlooked on more than one occasion is the arrangement of graphics when the target language is written - and read - right-to-left (RTL).

An often cited example is advertising translated into Arabic, where "before" (on the left) and "after" (on the right) pictures were not switched in the Arabic version, unintentionally implying the opposite of the visual message the advertisers hoped to convey (one site mentions this happening for a medicine and for laundry detergent).

RTL in ebola materials

International SOS to its credit has various ebola education materials in several languages, including Arabic and N'Ko, which are both written RTL. However these products - whatever the quality of their translations (which I'm not in a position to judge) - have run afoul of the same issue described above: The graphic layouts have not been inverted to correspond with the text direction.

First, ebola awareness posters in Arabic and N'Ko:

Ebola awareness posters in N'Ko (Manding) and Arabic, from International SOS

The graphics in these posters are arranged in exactly the same way as they are for left-to-right languages (like English), which means that the text reads one way, while the images are ordered in the opposite direction. Not ideal - readers can probably figure it out (assuming a certain level of literacy and familiarity with a visual clue like the arrow point, which we take for granted), but why make them work at it? Imagine following instructions or a comic in English with illustrations in panels organized from your right to your left.

But it's easy to fix. Here's the middle section of the N'Ko poster with graphics inverted:

This was quick and dirty, done with MS Paint on a laptop (can anyone who reads N'Ko evaluate it?). A professional effort would use a more sophisticated graphics program (Gimp or Adobe Photoshop) to get the spacings and alignments right and maybe flip some of the individual images. But the text and the illustrated story line here do at least go in the same direction.

Handwashing poster in Arabic from ISOS

And there's more. A handwashing poster in Arabic, again from International SOS (translation by Translators Without Borders), has the images of steps ordered in the direction contrary to how the language is read. It could be redone with the image sequence reversed to RTL and the digits changed to Arabic form (١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩٠).

Again, I'm not trying to be critical, but these are errors that stand out, and don't require any particular knowledge of the languages or scripts involved to set right.

A lot of good effort and resources went into producing such materials, and for good reasons, but all that gets unnecessarily discounted if such a basic mistake - one well known in advertising, localization, and development communication - is not corrected before dissemination.

But starting from where we are, with the urgency of the epidemic that prompted these efforts behind us, we have the opportunity to more carefully review and revise such materials to prepare them for re-use/re-purposing (per the 2Ds+4Rs). And in the case of layout, to think about establishing a best-practice of producing alternate graphics templates with inverted image order for RTL languages. How can this be done?

Ebola factsheet in Bambara

The Mali Health Organizing Project and Dokotoro Project have produced ebola factsheets for health workers in French and Bambara. Below is the factsheet in the Bambara language, reproduced from their Word docx version, with reference to the PDF version (the latter has more content; an image of the PDF is pictured at right).

Both of the abovementioned projects are engaged in important health work for Mali. I was particularly interested to learn of the Dokotoro Project's work on translating the well-known health education book Where There Is No Doctor into Bambara. (It seems this work could also link with the WikiProjectMed to expand the number and quality of health articles in the Bambara Wikipedia.)

Bambara is a Manding language, spoken mainly in Mali as a first or second language, and into eastern Senegal. Among Manding varieties, it is especially close to Jula (also written Dyula; the French spelling, Dioula, is also seen), which is widely spoken in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. One imagines it would be possible to adapt this text to Jula without much difficulty, and with a little more work, to Malinké, Mandingo, etc. (It might be very useful to collect material on ebola in the Manding languages to facilitate comparison, cross-translation, and harmonization of terminology and messaging.)

The text below is in the official orthography of Bambara in Mali, but without tone markings (Bambara is a tonal language, but tone marks are often omitted in writing). As is the case with a number of African languages, the Latin-based alphabet includes some letters from the IPA character set - however it is not really accurate to refer to this orthography as an "IPA transcription." The text below could also be written in N'Ko, and the previously published N'Ko ebola FAQ could be written with this orthography, although proponents of N'Ko find the Latin-based alphabet is not well adapted to the language.

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Kunnafoni ka ɲɛsin kɛnɛya baarakɛlaw ma, minnu bɛka Ebola kɛlɛ

K’a ɲini ka Ebola sidɔn. A kunkankumaw bɛ se yɔrɔ la ka sɔrɔ bana yɛrɛ ma se o yɔrɔ la. Kɛnɛya baarakɛ law de bɛ se ka hakilisigi kumaw fɔ mɔgɔw ye o kibaruyaw kan. Ni mɔgɔw ye yɛrɛtangafɛɛrɛ dɔw sigi sen kan minnu bɛ dɔ bɔ bana in jɛnsɛnni na, o bɛ kɛ sababu ye ka ni caman kisi.

1. Ebola yɛrɛ ye mun ye?

Ebola ye farigan jugumanba ye min bɛ sɔrɔ banakisɛ fɛ, jolibɔn bɛ a sen kɔrɔ (joli bɛ bɔ banabagatɔ fari la). A bɛ sɔrɔ banabagatɔ joli walima a farilaji fɛ, walima fɛn wɛrɛw fɛ banakisɛ bɛ minnu na. A bɛ se ka denbaya kuturu bɛɛ faga. Tuma dɔw la, a daminɛ na a ni bana wɛrɛw bɔlen don.

2. Ebola taamasiɲɛw ye mun ye?

A taamasiɲɛw de filɛ: Farigan, kungolodimi, fangadɔgɔya, fasasiradimi, fɔɔnɔ, kɔnɔboli, kurukuruw, ɲɛkisɛw bilenyali, yegentu ani basibɔn (kɔnɔ na ani farikolo kɔ kan)

3. Ebola bɛ cogodi sisan?

Ka na se Utikalo tile 15 ma, fiɲɛbana, basibɔn ni farigan bɛ min sen kɔrɔ ni a tɔgɔ ye ko Ebola, o yera Gine (Lagine), Siyera Lewɔni, Liberiya ani Nizeriya jamanaw kɔnɔ. A mɔgɔ fagataw bɛ bi duuru b’ɔ kɛmɛ kɛmɛ sara la. Bana in ma se Mali la fɔlɔ.

4. Ebola banakisɛ jɛnsɛnni bɛ bali cogodi?

A kunbɛncogo ɲuman ye mɔgɔw kana maga banabagatɔ la, sanko a farilajiw. A nafa ka bon mɔgɔw ka to ka u tɛgɛ ko ka u saniya tuma bɛɛ. A banakisɛ bɛ se ka to fiɲɛ na ka tile caman kɛ, o kama aw ka kan ka aw makoɲɛfɛnw bɛɛ saniya ni zawɛliji ye (tubabukan: l’eau de javel).

5. A banakisɛ bɛ jɛnsɛn cogodi?

Ebola bɛ sɔrɔ ebolatɔ farilaji de fɛ. Wɔsiji, joli, kɔnɔboli, fɔɔnɔ, lawaji, jiyiriyaraw ani sugunɛ bɛ a banakisɛ lase mɔgɔ ma. Ni bana bɛka juguya, a yɛlɛma ka teli o waati de. Laadala sukoya dɔw sen fɛ, mɔgɔw bɛ maga su la o fana bɛ kɛ sababu ye ka Ebola banakisɛ yɛlɛma.

6. Ebola fura ye mun ye?

Fura foyi ma sɔrɔ Ebola la fɔlɔ. Kɛnɛyaso minnu sigilen don Ebola kɛlɛli kama, olu ka baara sinsinnen don a sɔrɔcogo kɛlɛli de ma dɔrɔn, ka fara banabagatɔw mabɔli kan ani ka waleyaw kɛ minnu bɛ u dɛmɛ ka u farilaji segin. Hali ni mɔgɔw hakilila ko banabagatɔw mabɔli tɛ fɛɛrɛ ɲuman ye walima a bɛ u somɔgɔw degun, ebolatɔw mabɔli tɔw la, o ye wajibi ye ka a sababu kɛ a banakisɛ ka farati ye ani a bɛ se ka denbaya bɛɛ lajɛlen minɛ.

7. Jamana ɲɛmɔgɔw bɛka mun kɛ walasa ka dankari kɛ bana in na?

Mali bɛka fɛɛrɛ caman tigɛ a kama. O fɛɛrɛw ye:

• 1lɔ.    Ka dabaliw kuraya ani ka u sɛgɛsɛgɛ;
• 2nan.    Ka jamana dondaw, ni a kɛnɛyasow ani sigida mɔgɔw kɔlɔsi;
• 3nan.    Ka kunnafonisiraw sigi sen kan minnu bɛ kuma kɛnɛya sabatili taabolow kan;
• 4nan.    Ni sɔmi kɛra mɔgɔ minnu ma, ka olu sɛgɛsɛgɛ, ka u mabɔ kɛnɛyabagatɔw la, ka u ladon ani ka u kɔlɔsi;
• 5nan.    Ka sigida mɔgɔw kunnafoni, ka u bilasira ani ka bana in kunbɛnbaara bɛɛ kɔlɔsi.

Source: PDF and Word docx versions of Ebola Factsheet for Health Workers in Bambara.