Meta talk:Babylon/Archives/2009

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license

While working on the Egyptian Arabic wikipdia project, We are Translating most of the articles from English Wikipedia and to a lesser extent from Arabic Wikipedia. One of Arabic wikipedia users has raised an issue that we cann't translate articles from other wikipedias unless we mention this particular wikipedia as a source for the translated artcile.He called this a violation of the GNU license agreement and breaching of COPYRIGHTED WORK . I am reltively new in wikipedia and I was wondering is this an official policy? Do we have to mention the source of translation even it is from another wikipedia project? Thank you--Ramsis II 05:42, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

We discussed this on the Translation Skyp

e channel and all agreed that yes, you do need to do so. This is because the author is not "Wikipedia", each article has its own individual author(s) that are mentioned in the article history. In order to show proper attribution, you have to link back to the original article or at least name the original authors, ie. "w:ar:user:Ramsis II and m:user:Cbrown1023". Without a link back to the original article or author(s), it looks like the translator was actually the one who created the content, whereas they just translated it.

It's not a "policy", it's just following the terms of the license. Cbrown1023 talk 21:48, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
This is an interesting point. In the past I have included other Wikipedia's in the 'sources' section when I have translated whole articles or large chunks of them from other languages. However, when I have created very short articles by translating, for example when creating articles on the list of 'articles every language should have', I have not been citing the other Wikipedias. Now I'm thinking that I should have. Lloffiwr 19:48, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
Well, you can still fix that – just go make some edits where you change the spacing and in the edit summary put the source. Cbrown1023 talk 19:51, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Privacy policy

I have left a message on the talk page of privacy policy asking for a definition of personally identifiable information'. It would help to have this in translating the policy. No response so far. Can anybody help? Lloffiwr 14:00, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

I asked Mike to comment. Cbrown1023 talk 18:24, 24 January 2009 (UTC)
Done. Link to wikipedia articele now on the talk page of the translation request. Lloffiwr 23:28, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

AR WP help please

I do not speak Arabic, but I noticed that four images on AR WP were copied from EN and wrongly tagged as "GFDL 1.2" ({{GFDL 1.2}}) only instead of "GFDL 1.2 and any later versions" ({{GFDL}}). Instead of just fixing the tags, I uploaded the original 4 images from EN to Commons and tagged them on AR with "NowCommons" (which thankfully works in any language). The tag {{GFDL 1.2}} should not be used any more, as these images cannot be carried over when WM switches to CC-by-SA. Could someone who does speak Arabic help to get rid of the tag ar:قالب:رخصة_جنو_للوثائق_الحرة_1.2? Also if you speak any language other than English, these tags need to be removed from every project. I have cleaned out most of en:Category:GFDL 1.2 images, most of the ones that are left are just awaiting deletion discussions. Thanks! JohnnyMrNinja 07:13, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Lumbaart --> Lombard

Now the name for LMO language is "Lumbaart". For the community is preferable "Lombard". Where can we do this request? If this is not the right page, where can we write tis question? -- Dragonòt 08:12, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

You mean to change what the software says? (right now it's lombard) If so, try mediawiki-i18n (mailing list) and bugzilla. Cbrown1023 talk 16:59, 2 March 2009 (UTC)
Thank you, --Dragonòt 20:45, 3 March 2009 (UTC)

Request committal of translation

I have translated one message into Swahili on the translation page for the Stewards elections central notice. Can this be committed please. Also, I am trying to find the place to translate show/hide. Can anyone direct me to the right place? Lloffiwr 11:53, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

Cancel the first request. I see that the message has been added to the Wikimania translation request. Second request still stands. Lloffiwr 12:00, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

Just add it as a third point (above the translation of "Help us with translations" - Utusaidie kutafsiri!) at the same place where you added the others. Regards, Finn Rindahl 14:11, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
Thank you. Done. Lloffiwr 14:21, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
That banner isn't running any more, actually. See Wikimania 2009/CentralNotice for the current request (it's linked from the current banner on "Help us with translations!"). Thanks for translating. :-)Cbrown1023 talk 17:56, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

This template, from what I can see, potentially renders {{Other languages}} and the practice of creating language subpages for Template:Other languages obsolete in most cases, thereby making the translation process simpler and less manual. Support for more languages needs to be added though. Thoughts? —Anonymous DissidentTalk 04:42, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

Templates like this have existed in the best, see Template:Translation status. We discontinued doing things like it because there are now limits to the number of #ifexist calls – when you reach the limit, it loses its use. :-( It's also best to keep it more manual in some ways, we usually only add languages that are completed. (If someone creates a blank page showing that they're going to start it, then it won't get listed.) Cbrown1023 talk 21:39, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

Information thread

I've often thought it a shame that we only have Template:Information thread provided in English. I think some kind of initiative to try and get this into several more languages would be worthwhile. I know that the fact that the template changes rapidly impairs translation efforts, but it's still something worth looking at. —Anonymous DissidentTalk 04:57, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Written Language Barriers Partially Overcome With Auto-Traslation Systems

Written Language Traslation Systems Language barrier in Wikipedia or anywhere in the world of communication can be overcome atleast for the written media through autotranslation; link for this is given given here to convert any of languages listed in the program to another; conversion is automatic and on-the-fly. The translation may not be linguistically accurate in usage or contextual meaning.

  • Translates from original with original not shown [1]
  • Translates from original with original shown side by side [2]

With program systems such as above, it seems a Wikipedia page or any written text can be traslated to another language on the list in the programs or similar program as may come to light. A high level discussion is needed that the Wikipedia main page should include availabilty of Auto-Translation, though says distinctly that that page is only for the content of that page. Above matter, actually pertains to Wikipedia opening page with the globe and multiple languages of the world shown, but has no discussion facility on that page. This is the page where some form of this matter can be incorporated and will receive wider exposure of availabilty of Auto-Translation Systems. I will attempt to insert the same on the Main page also; this one is from a beginner with above link deleted twice from the External Links on Air France 447 page where I had established a translation using the the first Translation system link #1 above to translate the Brazilian Air Force Portal with lot of information on the progress of accident investigation. Feel free to help these re-establish link on Air France 447 page if appropriate.Patelurology2 22:31, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

Basic question: global request for translation

I am finding the link below, the translation request submission page, somewhat hard to grasp on first and second reading. Is there a simple way do make a request to have a certain english WP page be submitted for translation and entry in all other languages WP?

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Translation_requests/Request_submission#Translate_me

--Ihaveabutt 04:21, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Help please

What is the meaning of this phrase?

"... who had reflected profoundly upon the deliverance afforded by the Mongols from his neighbours and enemies in Rum"

Thanks. Franco aq 07:36, 12 July 2009 (UTC)

...it sounds like a historical fragment of the changing alliances and fortunes of warring polities. an unnamed group or entity is reflecting upon and considering the deliverance or liberation afforded or provided by the Mongols from his neighbours eg.possibly China, i don't know what Rum is, but it sounds like a place or a locality...
B9 hummingbird hovering 05:49, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Tibetan

Hello, is here a Tibetan-English translation team? Also, is there an appropriate forum to create a bilingual resource within Wikimedia? Like Wiktionary but dedicated to Tibetan and English. I am progressing this initiative atm: Topic:Tibetan.
Any assistance would be most appreciated.
B9 hummingbird hovering 05:44, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

translation of site banner

On the Welsh wikipedia a banner appears at the top of each page when not logged in which says 'Make a donation to Wikipedia and give the gift of knowledge!', in English. Where is it possible to translate this? Alternatively, how could we delete the banner altogether? Lloffiwr 19:58, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

It's not something controlled by the Foundation, it's something put by one of your admins on w:cy:MediaWiki:Common.js. You can translate it or remove it by editing that page, it's in the "/** Anon tips and donation banner **************************" section. There are a few links there about things other than donating, they also link to the English Wikipedia so you might want to change that. Cbrown1023 talk 02:45, 8 August 2009 (UTC)
Done Thanks for the tips - your prompt reply is as always much appreciated. We can have fun coming up with Welsh slogans to replace the English now. Lloffiwr 10:59, 8 August 2009 (UTC)
No problem, and hehe good luck! :-) Cbrown1023 talk 14:19, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Which do we translate english to korean "Namespace", "네임스페이스" or "이름 공간" in there?

--병맛빵 10:11, 12 September 2009 (UTC)

요즘은 이름공간이라는 말을 주로 씁니다 :) Kwj2772 (msg) 13:28, 13 September 2009 (UTC)
Thanks very much :) --병맛빵 14:05, 13 September 2009 (UTC)

"Help build the future..." site notice translation

Hi. I tried to find where to translate the site notice "Help build the future..." but couldn't. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks, Malafaya 09:39, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

Do you mean this one? Lloffiwr 12:49, 22 September 2009 (UTC)
Sorry for the confusion guys, it's on Strategy wiki: strategy:Call for participation/Appeal letter. Cbrown1023 talk 23:17, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

Feedback and e-mail forms - translate or not to translate?

Translators are being asked, both here and on translatewiki.net, to translate feedback forms and e-mail contact forms, for various projects, eg the Usability initiative. Now, if I were being asked for feedback in Swahili on the Swahili Wikipedia (or on any of the multilingual wikis such as Commons), then I would write any narrative feedback in Swahili. So the question is this. Are the people receiving the feedback forms able to understand them, or get them translated in a cost-effective manner? If not, and I found out that I had wasted my time providing feedback that nobody understood, I would be cross about it.

The feedback form designed by the Usability initiative does not mention any restrictions on the language to be used for the narrative responses. I have posted a query about what is being done with the replies not in English in several places on the Usability Initiative and am waiting for a reply. Until I get a reply I do not intend to translate the form for the reason mentioned above.

I also posted a copy of the query on translatewiki.net, to which the response was "We do not know how the UI processes the comments it gets. We assume that anyone can provide feedback in any language, unless stated otherwise (and the latter is not the case)." As you can see above, I prefer the opposite assumption myself, which is that unless the form explains how a project is dealing with multi-lingual replies, we assume that it can't deal with them.

I have taken a look at some of the translation requests here on Meta and have come across one for a fundraising survey. There must have been some planning on how to deal with non-English narrative replies before translation was requested for this. But the form and the translation request do not discuss this and so I am left uncertain as to what happens to the non-English replies when processed at the other end.

Can we improve on communication about multi-lingual forms to the translators and the end-users of the forms? Is there a help page for people designing such forms which could be used to prompt them to include either a system of translating replies where necessary, or for warning end-users where no translation facilities exist?

If there is a better place than this to discuss this issue, then please let me know. It has taken me a long time to write this! Lloffiwr 19:55, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

So now we know what's happening as far as the Usability initiative is concerned. 'The translation community' (via meta-wiki?) are going to be translating the feedback forms. More work for us! Lloffiwr 12:44, 2 October 2009 (UTC)

The global sysops vote is scheduled to go ahead on December 1. Presently, we have a severe shortage of translations for the core messages at CentralNotice/Global sysops and Global sysops/Vote/Introduction. If more translations are not received before the date, the vote will have to be postponed – which is a pain. If you're able, please help. —Anonymous DissidentTalk 14:41, 24 November 2009 (UTC)

Hallo, I would like to translate the page on Thomas Moran (painter)from ENglish to Italian, my language. How can I start, please?