Please let me know what you think of these proposed #hashtags for use on Twitter.
My inspiration for this is the fact that, in order to find and track tweets about internationalization, globalization, localization and translation, I currently have to have a filter that looks for all those words, plus their various numeronyms (i18n, g11n, l10n, and so forth). It’s just too much.
I propose the following:
#wgilt – An umbrella #hashtag for Web globalization / internationalization / localization / translation
For Tweets that are specifically about Web internationalization and not about localization, some might argue that it’s better to use that specific tag (#i18n). By all means, do so. But please include #wgilt, as well, for those of us who want to set up a watch list of all things multilingual on the Web.
Another advantage of using #wgilt (and #g11n until #wgilt fully catches on) instead of spelling out globalization, is that without standardizing on #wgilt, you’d have to search on globalization, globalisation and g11n – each of which brings up an entirely different set of results, of course – in order to make sure you find everything.
Finally, roughly two-thirds of the results for a search on globalization (and globalisation) are referring to financial and cultural globalization, not Web content and application globalization. A large percentage of tweets returned for a search on translation are employing the word to mean rewording something in less technical terms, for its mathematical meaning and so forth.
#gwcms – Global Web Content Management System (CMS)
This might be used along with #wgilt for those who want to track multilingual Web CMS-related tweets, but not general Web GILT topics.
#wcms – Web Content Management System (CMS)
This one obviously isn’t specifically about GILT topics, but it’s sorely needed. When I search Twitter (or the Web) for ‘WCMS’ right now, I get a whole slew of meanings, including a radio station (call letters), World Class Motor Specialists, Washoe County Medical Society, Worcester Chamber Music Society and so forth. When it’s not about global Web CMS, let’s use #wcms.
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I’m going to start using these immediately in my tweets and retweets on these topics.
If there are others you feel are needed, please comment here and let’s keep the discussion going!