I have tried the google translator to translate some en article into
Malayalam. around 5, 6.
The difficulty which I felt was the word to word translation. We have
a difference in style. Though we translate content of lot en wiki
articles to ML, we dont do it as a word by word. we need to change the
sentence, or sometimes the entire explanation in the way we write the
ml articles.
I left that option of google translator for ml wiki now.
regards
Rameshng
On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:51 PM, Shiju Alex <shijualexonline(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Ravi,
Here is my view on your questions.
However, a majority of the Tamil Wiki community
is showing stiff
resistance for this operation.
I too support them :). Word-to-word translation is not good from the reader
point of view. It may kill the project also.
1. Is Paid editing against Wikipedia principles
or spirit?
Yes, according to me.
2. Besides the article count etc., Wiki is first
of all a vibrant and
healthy community of like minded individuals interacting on a friendly note.
This is very important in a small community especially. But this operation
creates a divide like regular Wikipedians Vs Google Translators. User - >
User interaction has changed to User - > Google - > Translation team
coordinator interaction. From friendly reminders we have reached a
complaining stage.
Is this good for the community in the long run?
No it is not good for the community or for wiki.
3. Who benefits more from this operation? Google
or Wiki? Even if it is
assumed that it will serve the language ultimately, who has the control in
this operation? Of course, the Wiki communities have the control but they
haven't exercised yet.
This can hardly be considered partnership or collaboration. Google has not
been transparent on this so far.
Of course. Google will benefit more. Wiki will get many artificial
word-to-word translated articles from which the readers will run away.
Google will enhance their English to Tamil translator tool through this
exercise.
4. Wikipedia is a volunteer project and
Wikipedians contribute out of free
will. Is this free will ensured for the Google Translators? (choice of
articles, translation style, work load, tool for translation etc.,)
No. since they are translating articles for money. And wikipedians will not
have time to go through each and every word that they translate. I think
Tamil wikipedians need to concentrate more on tamil wikipedia article
contest now. So who will review the Google translated articles.
5. Use of Google translation kit is not wrong per
se. But the Kit is
partly responsible for many of the issues. Is it right to continue using
this without cleaning up existing articles?
I am against any type of word to word translation of English Wiki articles
to any other language. We have tried this Malayalam Wikipedia 3 years
before. We discontinued that since we found that exercise is creating
artificial articles which is not good from the reader point of view.
6. Not all en wiki articles are the best. Some
have factual errors and
some have bias. Especially, articles on culture, politics etc., Is it good
to translate them as it is? A paid translator can hardly be expected or
allowed to correct them.
Your concern is true.
7. Style of English and Style of Indian languages
are quite different.
Since the translation is done through the kit, we can see literal
translations resulting in a dry or artificial style in the local language.
This can harm the nature of the local language in long run. Translation is
OK but not everywhere and as it is.
True. I already mentioned this above.
8. IS THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION AWARE OF THIS
OPERATION ? WHAT IS ITS VIEW?
Its view need not be binding on the local community. Nevertheless it will be
interesting to know.
It is the local wiki community to decide about this.
9. WHY HASN'T GOOGLE ANNOUNCED ABOUT THIS
PROJECT OPENLY YET? Google has
emphasized many times that it doesn't create information but only organizes
it. Whenever it showed hints of creating information, it was highly noted
with concern. This operation is a clear move towards information creation.
Since they are not sure whether this project will happen.
On the outset, this looks like a good gesture
from Google to Indian
language Wikis. But it should also be noted in the context Google and
Wikmedia are both powerful entities in the Internet and one's effect on
another should be watched.
Google's only aim is to enhance their English- Indian language translator
tools. All other discussions are the ways to achieve that aim.
Shiju
On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 9:19 PM, Ravishankar <ravidreams(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> An update on the Google translated articles issue in Tamil Wiki.
>
> We exchanged few emails with the Google team and had a conference call
> once and the progress so far has been:
>
> * Google gets our approval on article topics before translating.
> * Some of the software issues have been promised to be addressed (too many
> red links etc.,)
> * One or two co-coordinators from the translation team are checking the
> talk page discussions and making needed changes. But if there are no talk
> page suggestions the articles are virtually unattended.
>
> However, a majority of the Tamil Wiki community is showing stiff
> resistance for this operation. Besides the quality of translation we are
> concerned about this on a philosophical note.
>
> We would like to seek the opinion of the larger Indian Wiki community on a
> philosophical angle in this issue. It will be definitely helpful before we
> decide the next step:
>
1. Is Paid editing against Wikipedia principles
or spirit?
>
2. Besides the article count etc., Wiki is first
of all a vibrant and
healthy community of like minded individuals interacting on a friendly note.
This is very important in a small community especially. But this operation
creates a divide like regular Wikipedians Vs Google Translators. User - >
User interaction has changed to User - > Google - > Translation team
coordinator interaction. From friendly reminders we have reached a
complaining stage.
Is this good for the community in the long run?
>
3. Who benefits more from this operation? Google
or Wiki? Even if it is
assumed that it will serve the language ultimately, who has the control in
this operation? Of course, the Wiki communities have the control but they
haven't exercised yet.
This can hardly be considered partnership or collaboration. Google has not
been transparent on this so far.
>
4. Wikipedia is a volunteer project and
Wikipedians contribute out of free
will. Is this free will ensured for the Google Translators? (choice of
articles, translation style, work load, tool for translation etc.,)
>
5. Use of Google translation kit is not wrong per
se. But the Kit is
partly responsible for many of the issues. Is it right to continue using
this without cleaning up existing articles?
>
6. Not all en wiki articles are the best. Some
have factual errors and
some have bias. Especially, articles on culture, politics etc., Is it good
to translate them as it is? A paid translator can hardly be expected or
allowed to correct them.
>
7. Style of English and Style of Indian languages
are quite different.
Since the translation is done through the kit, we can see literal
translations resulting in a dry or artificial style in the local language.
This can harm the nature of the local language in long run. Translation is
OK but not everywhere and as it is.
>
8. IS THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION AWARE OF THIS
OPERATION ? WHAT IS ITS VIEW?
Its view need not be binding on the local community. Nevertheless it will be
interesting to know.
>
9. WHY HASN'T GOOGLE ANNOUNCED ABOUT THIS
PROJECT OPENLY YET? Google has
emphasized many times that it doesn't create information but only organizes
it. Whenever it showed hints of creating information, it was highly noted
with concern. This operation is a clear move towards information creation.
>
On the outset, this looks like a good gesture
from Google to Indian
language Wikis. But it should also be noted in the context Google and
Wikmedia are both powerful entities in the Internet and one's effect on
another should be watched.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ravi
>
>
>
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