While we welcome the efforts and contributions, all wikis may not be equipped with enuf active users to handle such a  flood. if a flood of low quality articles or translations come by, such projects may take (much) longer to recover and regain the drop of quality. While quantity benefits out of such a flood, that may end up compromising the quality of the wiki. It may not always in th interest of the local community. 

Regards,
Jyothis.
Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 23, 2010, at 3:03 PM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan <rsrikanth05@gmail.com> wrote:

Shiju,
Can't we just go ahead normally? If these Google guys make mistakes, we just correct them and go on. If they resist, then explain or warn them?
Regards,

On 23 February 2010 21:08, Shiju Alex <shijualexonline@gmail.com> wrote:
There should be proper co-ordination between each language community and the Google.

In Malayalam Wikipedia, we already tried collaborative translation of some English Wiki articles 2 years back. But that was a failure and we dropped that. One of the main issue with word-to-word translation is that the entire article will have the sentences constructed with artificial words and phrases. The reader will run away from that type of articles.

If there is no proper agreement between wiki community and Google the community may resist. For the sake of Google translation, Wikis should not not be flooded with articles. Some wikis might be interested in using this service to increase the article count. But not all communities will agree to that.

The problem of paid translation and word-to-word translation are many. Each language community might have different issues regarding word-to-word translation/paid translation. Each of them need to be addressed separately.

So it is very important that Google agrees to the point mentioned in the below mail, and there should be proper communication between Google and respective language communities.


Shiju




 
On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Ravi shankar <ravidreams_03@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi all,

regarding the mail below:

Sundar and I have initiated contacts with Google on coordinating their article contributions.

Google has agreed in principle for the demands below.

We hope we can update all Indian Wikis about the progress in this collaboration, say in a month or two. Then it may be a good model for all Indian Wikis to follow. So, it may be a good idea for all Indian Wikis to wait during this period so Google need not have to do the same consensus evolving approach with many wikis.

Thanks,

ravi
 


 



From: Ravi shankar <ravidreams_03@yahoo.com>
To: wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Sent: Fri, December 25, 2009 11:30:27 AM
Subject: Coordinating Google translation kit articles

Hi all,

Following the recent Wiki meet in Bangalore, Sundar (Tamil Wikipedian) brought to our notice that Google is contributing to various Indian language Wikis using Google translation kit and paid translators. In Tamil Wiki, we feel a strong need to corordinate / organize this activity andwe hope it is the same situation in many Indian language wikis.

So, may I propose that we discuss this in this mailing list and send a common notification from Indian language wikis to Google India? To begin with I propose the following. Please add to the list.

1. Google should appoint one coordinator each for every Indian language wiki where they contribute articles. This coordinator should be available to reach by mail and be adequately responsive (Say, once a week at least). He will take feedback from the wiki community and pass it to the paid contributors.

2. If Googe policy allows, they should know us the time frame and scale of this operation so we can plan accordingly.

3. Google should not translate existing articles because they are over riding previous contributions.

4. Each Wiki can submit a list of needed articles and the translators can consider giving priority from them.

5. Each Wiki can draft an essential Manual of Style which the translators shall follow.

6. Based on the responses for above, we shall periodically re-evaluate how we can continue to cooperate with Google.

After we finalise the list , some one of us who has links with Google India team can take this forward.

Thanks,

Ravi

(Tamil Wiki)



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