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  "path": "/2026/02/21/revitalizing-uk-history-series-2-expanding-multilingual-access-on-wikidata/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-21T08:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://diff.wikimedia.org",
  "tags": [
    "https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Wikimedia_UK/Revitalizing_UK_History_2,_Multilingual_Expansion/home"
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  "textContent": "By Josef Anthony\n\n\n\nAs Wikipedia clocks its 25th year, the question is not only how much knowledge we have built – but how accessible that knowledge truly is across languages.\n\nIn late 2025, _Revitalizing UK History, Series 2: Multilingual Expansion_ brought together volunteers from different language communities to strengthen the representation of underrepresented UK historical figures on Wikidata — not just in English, but across multiple languages.\n\n## Building on Momentum\n\nThe first phase of Revitalizing UK History focused on enriching structured data for overlooked figures. Series 2 went a step further: making that data more accessible through multilingual descriptions and improved structured entries.\n\nThrough a hybrid session on **29 November 2025** and a fully online workshop on **17 January 202** 6, participants learned how Wikidata supports multilingual knowledge and how better descriptions improve discoverability, infoboxes, and cross-language visibility.\n\n## A Truly Multilingual Effort\n\nEditors worked on expanding descriptions across a diverse range of languages, including **Welsh, Scots, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, French, and Spanish**.\n\nThis cross-regional focus strengthened multilingual access while connecting different communities through shared structured data work.\n\nThis approach helps:\n\n  * Strengthen data consistency across Wikimedia projects\n  * Improve visibility of UK heritage globally\n  * Support smaller language communities through structured data\n\n\n\n## Measurable Impact\n\nThe project was tracked through the Outreach Dashboard:\n\n https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Wikimedia_UK/Revitalizing_UK_History_2,_Multilingual_Expansion/home\n\nBy the close of the project, the dashboard recorded:\n\n  * Active contributors from multiple language communities\n  * Hundreds of edits across selected items\n  * Significant growth in multilingual descriptions\n\n\n\n## Learning and Quality\n\nAs with any multilingual editing sprint, quality control was essential. Post-event review ensured that:\n\n  * Descriptions followed Wikidata formatting standards\n  * Machine translation was not used without verification\n  * Edits aligned with community norms\n\n\n\nThis emphasis on quality reinforces that expanding access must go hand-in-hand with maintaining data integrity.\n\n## Strengthening Collaboration\n\nThe project also demonstrated the power of cross-community collaboration. Promotion through UK language networks and international Wikimedia channels helped attract participants beyond a single region.\n\nBy integrating Indigenous UK languages alongside African languages, the project built meaningful bridges between communities and highlighted how structured data can serve diverse audiences.\n\n## Looking Ahead\n\nRevitalizing UK History, Series 2 shows that multilingual accessibility is not a secondary feature of Wikidata _ it is central to knowledge equity.\n\nAs Wikipedia continues toward its 25th anniversary, strengthening the connection between languages and structured data remains one of the most impactful ways we can future-proof the movement.\n\nThank you to all volunteer editors and partners who contributed to this effort.\n\nSpecial thanks to all volunteer editors who contributed to this project\n\nKnowledge grows stronger when it grows in many languages.\n\n\n**Thanks & Credits**\n\nProject Lead: **Josef Anthony**\n\nWorkshop Facilitators & Support: **Wikimedia UK Team**\n\nKey Tool Support: Outreach Dashboard tracking & community Telegram groups",
  "title": "Revitalizing UK History, Series 2: Expanding Multilingual Access on\nWikidata"
}