Wiktionary

Wiktionary
Smurrayinchester · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Wiktionary
Url	[https://www.wiktionary.org/]
Type	Online dictionary
Registration	Optional
Language	Multilingual
Owner	Wikimedia Foundation
Launch date	December 12, 2002
Current status	Active

Wiktionary is a free online dictionary and thesaurus that provides definitions, translations, and pronunciation guides for words in many languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. It is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, and is supported by the Wikimedia movement, which also includes Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikiversity, and other projects. Wiktionary is available in over 170 languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, and Swedish, and has become a valuable resource for language learners, translators, and researchers, such as those at Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. The project has also been recognized by organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Organization for Standardization.

Introduction

Wiktionary is a unique online dictionary that provides a wide range of features and tools for language learners and researchers, including definitions, translations, pronunciation guides, and example sentences. The project is based on the principles of Wiki, which allows users to contribute and edit content collaboratively, and is supported by a community of volunteers from around the world, including Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa. Wiktionary has become an important resource for language learners, such as those studying at University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University, and has been recognized by organizations such as the British Academy and the Académie française. The project has also been used by researchers at institutions such as Columbia University, University of Chicago, and California Institute of Technology.

History

The history of Wiktionary dates back to 2002, when it was launched as a project of the Wikimedia Foundation, with the goal of creating a free online dictionary and thesaurus. The project was initially based on the Wikimedia software and was supported by a small group of volunteers, including Daniel Alston and Brion Vibber, who were also involved in the development of Wikipedia. Over time, the project has grown and evolved, with the addition of new features and tools, such as the Wiktionary:Main Page, which provides an overview of the project and its goals, and the Wiktionary:Community Portal, which provides a space for users to discuss and collaborate on the project. The project has also been supported by organizations such as the Ford Foundation and the Knight Foundation, and has been recognized by awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Medal of Science.

Features

Wiktionary provides a wide range of features and tools for language learners and researchers, including definitions, translations, pronunciation guides, and example sentences. The project also includes a thesaurus, which provides a list of synonyms and antonyms for each word, and a dictionary, which provides detailed information about each word, including its etymology, pronunciation, and usage. The project also includes a number of special features, such as the Wiktionary:Word of the day, which highlights a new word each day, and the Wiktionary:Quote of the day, which provides a quote from a famous author or speaker, such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, or Martin Luther King Jr.. The project has also been used by researchers at institutions such as University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Content

The content of Wiktionary is created and edited by a community of volunteers from around the world, including United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia. The project includes a wide range of languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese, and provides definitions, translations, and pronunciation guides for each word. The project also includes a number of special features, such as the Wiktionary:Language codes, which provides a list of language codes used in the project, and the Wiktionary:Language families, which provides information about the language families and their relationships. The project has also been recognized by organizations such as the Library of Congress and the British Library, and has been used by researchers at institutions such as University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, and Duke University.

Community

The Wiktionary community is a group of volunteers from around the world who contribute and edit content on the project. The community is supported by a number of tools and resources, including the Wiktionary:Community Portal, which provides a space for users to discuss and collaborate on the project, and the Wiktionary:Help desk, which provides assistance and support for new users. The community is also supported by a number of organizations, including the Wikimedia Foundation, which provides funding and resources for the project, and the Wikimedia chapters, which provide support and resources for local communities, such as the Wikimedia Australia and the Wikimedia Deutschland. The project has also been recognized by awards such as the Knight News Challenge and the Google Grant, and has been used by researchers at institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and Northwestern University.

Technical_aspects

The technical aspects of Wiktionary are based on the MediaWiki software, which provides a platform for collaborative editing and content management. The project also uses a number of other tools and technologies, including the MySQL database management system, which provides a database for storing and managing content, and the Apache HTTP Server, which provides a web server for hosting the project. The project also uses a number of extensions and plugins, including the Wiktionary:Extension:ParserFunctions, which provides a set of functions for parsing and manipulating content, and the Wiktionary:Extension:Gadgets, which provides a set of tools and features for customizing the user interface. The project has also been recognized by organizations such as the Free Software Foundation and the Open Source Initiative, and has been used by researchers at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Carnegie Mellon University.