Microsoft Language Interface Packs for Nigerian Languages?
Effective November 29, 2005, Maori speakers will be able to download a language interface pack for Microsoft Office which will effectively turn their MS Office into the Maori version - i.e. the menus, dialog boxes, pop-up messages, etc. - will now be rendered in Maori. They will be able to download a similar software for Microsoft Windows from December 8.
Now, there are fewer than 500,000 speakers of Maori, while the Nigerian languages Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Efik, Fulfude, etc. have speakers numbering in millions - Igbo and Yoruba each have over 25 million speakers. However, there does not seem to be any plans by Microsoft to introduce interface packs for any of these languages.
I was just wondering if Microsoft Nigeria is doing anything in this regard? Or maybe their activities in Nigeria are limited to hounding "software pirates" and launching new versions of Microsoft software?
Re: Microsoft Language Interface Packs for Nigerian Languages?
I thought I should post a reply I got to an e-mail I sent to Microsoft on this matter here. I apologise for the late posting, but I suppose it's better late than never. The reply was from Andy Abbar, Microsoft's Director of International Strategic Initiatives for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) HQ, based in Paris La Défense.
Dear Muyiwa!
Thanks for your interest and taking the time to provide us with your feedback on the Language Interface Packs and in particular for Nigeria. We are in the process of identifying the appropriate authorities to work with us on providing a similar solution to Maori for Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba for our next generation platform (Windows Vista) and the upcoming version of Office Standard applications.
We hope to kick off the project later this year. Thanks again and apologies for the delayed response.
Andy Abbar
I suppose it's fair to say that I got the e-mail on January 17 2006, but as at the end of November 2006, there doesn't seem to be any action in this direction on Microsoft's part. Maybe Microsoft is having some difficulties with "identifying appropriate authorities" from among the numerous Nigerian universities, language experts and computer professionals? Anyway, we live in hope...
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