2019:Languages/Bridging the language gap: the Wikimedia Foundation and volunteer translators
 | This is a Closed submission for Wikimania 2019. It has been reviewed and was not accepted. |
Description[edit | edit source]
The Wikimedia movement spans hundreds of languages. A lot of information is available in one: English. Other information or news might be available in half a dozen, or twenty languages. Many communities don't have access to the texts we write about technical changes, opportunities to ask for support, about how to be part of the discussions to decide our collective future. As defined in the medium-term plan, the Wikimedia Foundation looks to support volunteer translators. Come listen to what the current plans are and take part in the discussion about how to move forward. We will focus especially on two areas: outreach to new translators and how to create the infrastructure for translators to do their work (communication, glossaries, documentation).
Relationship to the theme[edit | edit source]
This session will address the conference theme — Wikimedia, Free Knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals — in the following manner:
In order to achieve reduced inequalities, we must work on a more equal access to our own, internal information. To allow our communities to help with quality education, they need to be able to understand their own tools and have a say in how they are going to work in the future. Basically, translations and access to core information that is currently behind the lock of English is at the centre of creating an equal world.
Session outcomes[edit | edit source]
At the end of the session, the following will have been achieved:
- Anyone interested has a good understanding of the current status of the Wikimedia Foundation's plans.
- Those who want to participate in the discussions around these questions going forward knows whom to reach out to.
- We get a better shared understanding of good ideas and tools available to us.
- Ideally, the discussion turns into a proper workshop with tangible outcomes for moving forward.
Session leader(s)[edit | edit source]
- Johan (WMF) (talk) (Johan Jönsson, the Community Relations team, the Wikimedia Foundation)
Session type[edit | edit source]
Each Space at Wikimania 2019 will have specific format requests. The program design prioritises submissions which are future-oriented and directly engage the audience. The format of this submission is a:
- Roundtable discussion forum
- Workshop to identify and try to solve problem
Requirements[edit | edit source]
The session will work best with these conditions:
- Room:
Smallish room. Preferably round-table seating.
- Audience:
We could accommodate anywhere between 5 and 50 persons depending on seating and interest, but it would take different forms depending on the numbers and level of experience. A small group would require active participation from almost everyone for this work, but most likely, we're looking at a mix of those who want to sit and listen and a number of people who truly want to be part of the conversation. The goal is to be able to accommodate both: if you don't know anything, we'll teach you.
- Recording:
No. While the initial background and contextualisation would be relevant for a wider audience, this is about solving problems together, and people shouldn't feel that they don't dare speak up because it'll be recorded.