Fundraising 2009/Translations

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Translation guidelines[edit]

  • These messages were developed in partnership with a communications firm, Fenton Communications working with Sea Change Strategies. They were developed with an eye to achieving maximum impact, drawing attention and interest, and learning from prior years (e.g. simple, large messages seem to work better than more complex notices).
  • When translating them, you don't have to do an exact literal translation if you feel that you can come up with a wording that achieves similar effect in your language.
  • If you feel that your translation does not work well and should not be used, please annotate your translation with ***.
  • Note: Many of these messages have been translated from previous years (2008, 2007)

Note from the Wikipedia Forever Project Lead[edit]

Thank you for your efforts in translating/adapting this.

Wikipedia Forever is about celebrating the Wikipedia movement and everything it stands for: sharing, openness, collaboration, freedom, knowledge, people. Overall, the tone of the communication is positive, celebratory and optimistic.

The phrase Wikipedia Forever should have a strong and urgent feeling, something you’d see on a flag or banner at a rally.

Specific notes/expressions:

Phase 1/Of the people is an expression that is most remembered in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “...of the people, by the people and for the people…” Our meaning: Wikipedia’s knowledge is of the people, this is our shared knowledge.

Advancing forever. “Advancing” connotes both moving forward and upward. Humans growing and improving and evolving. Getting better.

Phase 2/Look at what you’ve done. This is intended to have a warm and human tone, like words of support you might hear from a proud parent or coach.

Share, everybody. While it is a command, “everybody” gives it a casual, friendly, almost colloquial tone.

Phase 3/Help keep it growing. Again, “growing” connotes not just getting larger, but improving, getting better.

Phase 5/I believe us. “I believe the people.” Not “I believe in us,” which is more of a cliché. “I believe us” has a more uncommon sound, almost awkward in its unusual usage.

I knew you could do it. Again, a warm and supportive piece of encouragement, something you might hear from a coach or parent after a great effort.

Thanks again,

Jelly Helm

Source Text[edit]

The source text can be found here: Fundraising 2009/core messages/en. See Fundraising 2009/Translatewiki for interface translations.