The World and Wikipedia
Encyclopedia
The World and Wikipedia: How We are Editing Reality (ISBN 9780956205209) is a book written by the British linguist Andrew Dalby
and published by Siduri Books on 25 September 2009.
The author provides a context for the birth and growth of Wikipedia
through an examination of the wider encyclopedia tradition. The work and community behaviour of its expert and non-expert contributors are discussed, as are the question of reliability and the problem of vandalism. Dalby covers numerous incidents from English, French and German wikipedias and closes with an optimistic outlook on the central and responsible role he believes Wikipedia will assume in the media.
The book follows an "anecdotal approach" to argue that "disproportionate emphasis on popular culture
[...] does happen but that over time substance is added and entries are extended" and why "we will come to rely on it more and more and that it will come to serve us better than its predecessors." He "claims Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder
,
as a proto-Wikipedian", and makes the case "that Wikipedia [...] has become more reliable as more people use it".
Andrew Dalby
Andrew Dalby is an English linguist, translator and historian who has written articles and several books on a wide range of topics including food history, language, Classical texts, and Wikipedia.-Education and early career:...
and published by Siduri Books on 25 September 2009.
The author provides a context for the birth and growth of Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its 20 million articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world. Almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site,...
through an examination of the wider encyclopedia tradition. The work and community behaviour of its expert and non-expert contributors are discussed, as are the question of reliability and the problem of vandalism. Dalby covers numerous incidents from English, French and German wikipedias and closes with an optimistic outlook on the central and responsible role he believes Wikipedia will assume in the media.
The book follows an "anecdotal approach" to argue that "disproportionate emphasis on popular culture
[...] does happen but that over time substance is added and entries are extended" and why "we will come to rely on it more and more and that it will come to serve us better than its predecessors." He "claims Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
,
as a proto-Wikipedian", and makes the case "that Wikipedia [...] has become more reliable as more people use it".
External links
- Andrew Dalby and others on "Start The WeekStart the WeekStart the Week is a discussion programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 which began in April 1970. The current presenter is the former BBC political editor Andrew Marr...
" (BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
) 14 December 2009 - Author website
- Publisher and distributor