Community Central:Babel

Babel templates allow users to provide some information about the languages they use and their level of proficiency. The use of these templates also puts the user in appropriate language categories, so other users can find them.

Examples of Babel Templates

For example, a user who is fluent in English and can use it as a native speaker would use the template {{User en}} on his or her user page, or, when using this central template locally, {{wikicities:User en}}. The template would look like

Template:User en

A user who wanted to indicate a lower (non-native equivalent) level of ability would use one of levels (0 not understand, 1 basic, 2 intermediate or 3 advanced). For example, someone with only a very basic level of Spanish ability would use the template {{User es-1}}:

Template:User es-1

Language Levels

The templates are in the format {{User language&level}} where "language&level" is the two letter code for the language. (See Wikipedia:ISO_639 if you don't already know it.) When no level is specified, it indicates someone is fluent at the level of a native speaker (Sometimes the letter N is used to indicate this native level of ability). The levels of ability are

• xx-0 the user does not understand this language
• xx-1 for basic command (the ability to understand and answer simple questions in the language)
• xx-2 for an intermediate level of knowledge
• xx-3 for advanced or fluent understanding (the ability to correct spelling and grammar errors in the language)
• xx or xx-N for native or equivalent

Adding Babel Templates to Your User Page

1. Pick the templates (language and level) that describe your ability best
2. Go to your user page and edit it
3. Add the appropriate command to your user page

You may want to put the template labels together in a box. Examples:

Language skill box with Babel templates:

Template:User enTemplate:User es-1

Language skill box with Babel templates:

Template:User jaTemplate:User de-2

Language skill box with Babel templates:

Template:User urTemplate:User enTemplate:User zh-0Template:User fr-2

Adding the templates will also add your user page to the appropriate language categories.

Copying Templates to Wikia

If the template for the language and level you want has not been created on the Central Wikia yet, copy it over from another Wikimedia site. (There are links to some under "more information" below.) Create the equivalent template here. For example, copy the contents from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:User_de-1 to http://www.wikicities.com/wiki/Template:User de-1 to create the template for basic German speakers.

More Information

• Babel templates
• Wikipedia:Babel
• Commons:Babel
• Help:Shared templates