If you want to join a server in your own language, there are lots of them available:
https://fedi.garden/fediverse-servers-sorted-by-language
There are also lots of servers based in particular countries and regions:
https://fedi.garden/fediverse-servers-sorted-by-country-and-region/
@FediGarden masto.pt could be added to Portugal/Portuguese lists
@FediGarden Cool! Glad to help
@FediGarden
* The list is truncated, isn't it?
Where is France --> https://fedi.garden/fediverse-servers-sorted-by-country-and-region/ ?
* more than three servers isn't it --> https://fedi.garden/tag/francais/ ?
The languages aren't the same as the countries. There are many countries that speak French, I don't want to assume they are all devoted to France.
@FediGarden
Yes of course, however the link(https://fedi.garden/fediverse-servers-sorted-by-country-and-region/) is for "Local servers sorted by country and region"
France as a country should be listed. Right ?
Ah I see, yes.
I haven't been able to find a French local server that can be listed yet. I have tried to contact a couple but they haven't replied.
I can only list instances when the server owner has given permission to be listed, and which comply with the Mastodon Covenant.
If someone wants to suggest a French local server I'm happy to try to contact them.
@FediGarden
ok, thank you for your answer
I used https://joinmastodon.org/fr/servers and found:
- piaille.fr
- mastouille.fr
- mastodon.iriseden.eu
- h4.io
- pewtix.com
- toot.aquilenet.fr
- rivals.space
- mastoot.fr
others listed here: https://mastodon.help/instances/fr
at least one not listed https://bzh.social/ @bzh You're right, of course you need approbation from administrators to list instances, and of course an updated list seems not so easy to have and to maintain.
@FediGarden @Phil35 We would be more than happy, if we can get listed as a local server for Brittany in France
@bzh @FediGarden
I fully agree, of course.
But step by step, as France is not listed first as a country.
Europe > France > Brittany.
So let @fedigardens create first the entry "France" and be listed there
@Phil35 @bzh @FediGarden We don’t control or maintain the fedi.garden website, as this is a different project unrelated to us.
Oh geez, I am SO sorry @fedigardens !
I did not know you existed! My apologies!
Do you want me to change my account and site name? Looks like we started within weeks of each other!
@Phil35 @FediGarden balkan.fedive.rs Serbian language.
@FediGarden Thanks for the list of country instances. I tried to follow the one in my country and all of a sudden I need a #Mastodon sign-in. What about the #Fediverse? #newbie Take it easy.
Hi!
Don't worry, we are all new sometimes :)
You can't follow a server, the server is where your account is.
The fedi.garden site is for people who are wanting to find a server that they can sign up on.
Your account already exists on the server https://hachyderm.io, you don't need to sign up again.
You can optionally transfer your account to a different server, but you probably don't need to do this as you can already follow and interact with people from other servers.
@FediGarden Thanks. Have a good day or night, wherever you are.
If I join an instance, how does that work?
My account would remain connected to its original server, right?
Does that mean I would just see posts from the other instance in my feed too?
If you join an instance, that would mean creating a totally new account with no connection to your original account. (If you transfer your account to another instance, that will close down your original account.)
You can already see posts from the other instance in your feed now, if you are following people from that instance. You don't need to be on an instance to interact with people from that instance.
For example, you and I are on different instances but we are talking now.
If you're happy on your current instance, don't worry about other instances.
The main reason to transfer to another instance is usually if you're unhappy with the way your current instance is run.
Alternatively, some people enjoy having multiple accounts with different themes, for example a work account and a personal account. These could be on separate instances.
Or someone might want to speak another language which your current instance does not support due to moderation issues.
@FediGarden
Ok, that's how I thought it worked. I was just momentarily confused.
Thanks for taking the time to reiterate this. I frequently encourage people to come join us, so your explanation will help me explain to others.
Mastodon has translation services baked in, but must be set up at eaxh instance.
How can the wider community help instances provide translation services.
One assumes its a CPU intensive task, can the service be shared amongst instances without risking data and scraping?
The translation service usually depends on a paid API from an open source translation provider at https://libretranslate.com
I don't think the service runs on the instance itself, but through the API from the translation provider?
If a wider community wants to help, they could contact their instance admin and say they want to donate money to pay for the translation service.
If members can cover the costs, an instance can have its translation service activated.
Thank you very much.
Pinning a tweet about it.