[Wikimedia-l] Translations of WMF documents [was: Re: Wikimedia Foundation Report, March 2012 [was: Re: Wikimedia-l Digest, Vol 97, Issue 43]]

[Osmar Valdebenito]

If increasing global reach and participation is part of our strategy, then
it is important to communicate in the principal languages and engage with
new people.
Certainly, communities can help to translate. But the Foundation can leave
that work only to the communities.
What if nobody in the Chinese, Spanish or Arabic communities of speakers is
able to do a decent work translating? Well, we leave billions of people
outside and our expansion in developing countries will be affected.
Also, it is important to have a coherent message across the world, without
misspellings or uncomplete translations that can hurt it. Volunteers do a
great job, but not the professional one we expect from the WMF.
Every respected international organization publishes in different
languages... when will the Wikimedia Foundation start doing it?


Osmar Valdebenito Gaete

Presidente de Wikimedia Chile

http://www.wikimediachile.cl

2012/4/16 Juergen Fenn <schneeschmelze at googlemail.com>

> Am 14. April 2012 14:03 schrieb Martijn Hoekstra <
> martijnhoekstra at gmail.com>:
> > As a matter of principle, I wholeheartedly agree. But principles only
> > take you so far, and cost a great deal. I don't see much wrong with
> > the communities translating reports, rather than have the WMF spend my
> > donated money on translators.
>
> May I remind you that in German Wikipedia so many contributors are
> concerned by exclusion from discussions and annoucements in English
> that the German chapter had to start a newsletter last autumn that is
> compiled weekly as a joint effort by chapter staff and volunteers in
> order to inform about recent events. However, this does not replace
> translations. In publishing its announcements in English only, the
> Wikimedia Foundation does exclude the majority of Wikipedians from
> direct participation which is an unfair and undemocratic way. Any
> money spent on improving participation is well spent, if it costs
> anything more at all.
>
> Regards,
> Jürgen.
>
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