Wikipedia Translation Guidelines for Contributors
Translating content for English Wikipedia is a valuable way to expand global knowledge, but it requires a disciplined approach to ensure accuracy and legal compliance. Whether you are using advanced AI tools or manual translation, following established protocols is essential for maintaining the encyclopedia's quality.
Using Machine Translation and LLMs
Tools such as DeepL and Google Translate serve as efficient starting points for the translation process. However, these tools are not substitutes for human oversight. Contributors must adhere to the LLM (Large Language Model) translation guidelines, carefully revising errors and confirming the accuracy of the text. Simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into English Wikipedia is prohibited.
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Quality Control and Verification
Not all source material is suitable for translation. Contributors should avoid translating text that appears low-quality or unreliable. To ensure the integrity of the information, it is recommended to verify the claims using the references provided within the original foreign-language article.
Categorization and Organization
To help organize the vast amount of content, contributors are encouraged to specify a topic using the | topic = parameter in templates. This is particularly important for large categories, such as the main category which already contains 1,049 articles.
Copyright and Attribution Requirements
Proper attribution is a legal necessity when translating content. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary of your contribution by including an interlanguage link to the source article.
For example, a model attribution summary would be: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Sport (periódico)]]; see its history for attribution."
Additionally, you may add the {{Translated|es|Sport (periódico)}} template to the article's talk page to further document the source.
Key Facts
- Machine Translation: Tools like Google Translate and DeepL are for drafting only; manual revision is mandatory.
- Verification: Only translate reliable, high-quality text and verify it via original references.
- Attribution: Interlanguage links must be included in the edit summary for copyright purposes.
- Categorization: Use the
| topic =field to assist in organizing articles within large categories.
| Requirement | Action Needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Usage | Revise LLM/Machine output | Ensure accuracy |
| Source Quality | Verify with references | Prevent low-quality content |
| Attribution | Add interlanguage link to edit summary | Copyright compliance |
| Organization | Specify | topic = |
Aid in categorization |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste directly from Google Translate?
No. Machine translation is a starting point. You must follow LLM translation guidelines, revise errors, and confirm the accuracy of the translation before posting.
What should I do if the source text seems unreliable?
You should not translate text that appears to be low-quality or unreliable. If possible, use the references provided in the foreign-language article to verify the facts.
How do I properly attribute a translation in the edit summary?
Provide an interlanguage link to the source article. For example: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Sport (periódico)]]; see its history for attribution."
Is there a way to mark a translation on the talk page?
Yes, you can add the {{Translated|language|Article Name}} template to the talk page of the article.
Why is specifying a topic important for categorization?
With some main categories containing over 1,000 articles, specifying a topic via the | topic = parameter helps maintain an organized structure for users and editors.