Submissions/The software localization paradox

This is an accepted submission for Wikimania 2012.

Submission no.

627

Title of the submission: The software localization paradox - Why you should use Wikipedia and other software in your native language even if you know English well.

Type of submission (workshop, tutorial, panel, presentation): Presentation.

Author of the submission: Amir E. Aharoni

E-mail address: amir.aharoni@mail.huji.ac.il

Username: amire80

Country of origin: Israel

Affiliation, if any (organization, company etc.): Wikimedia

Personal homepage or blog: http://aharoni.wordpress.com

Abstract (at least 300 words to describe your proposal): People who know English often prefer to use software in English – it has less bugs, it doesn't have translation mistakes, they are used to it, they find translations of software unusual. In this talk I'll try to present compelling and practical – not ideological – reasons to use software and websites, including, of course, Wikipedia, in your own native language: It makes the software itself better; It makes translation software better; It makes it easier for you to give your neighbors and relatives support when they ask you for it. But most importantly, it is the only way to opening the world of the Internet and computing to people who don't know English – if software or websites are not translated or translated badly, people who don't know English simply cannot use it. The only people who can fix it are the people who know English and other languages, but too often they choose English... And that's the Software localization paradox. This talk is aimed at changing the mind of both native and non-native English speakers.

Track (Wikis and the Public Sector; GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums); WikiCulture and Community; Research, Analysis, and Education; Technology and Infrastructure): Technology and Infrastructure

Length of presentation/talk (if other than 25 minutes, specify how long): 25 Minutes

Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?: Yes

Slides or further information (optional): I presented a similar talk at the GNUnify conference in Pune, February 2012.

Special request as to time of presentations (for example - can not present on Saturday): None

Interested attendees

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Rangilo Gujarati (talk) 17:19, 5 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Marclaporte (talk) 05:52, 11 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Interested in the talk as I am interested in translating and localizing softwares. Balajijagadesh (talk)
Thuvack (talk) 11:05, 9 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Pginer (talk) 18:12, 7 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Your name here