Wikipedia Translation Guidelines for German to English Content
Expanding English Wikipedia content often involves translating high-quality information from other languages. When translating from German, contributors must balance the efficiency of modern technology with the rigorous accuracy standards required for an encyclopedia. This process ensures that knowledge is shared globally without compromising factual integrity.
Key Facts
- Machine translation (e.g., DeepL or Google Translate) is permitted as a starting point but cannot be copy-pasted directly.
- Translators must adhere to the LLM translation guideline and manually revise all errors.
- Unreliable or low-quality source text should not be translated.
- Copyright attribution is mandatory via interlanguage links in the edit summary.
The Translation Process
The goal of translating articles, such as the one for Dornstadt, is to provide accurate English versions of existing foreign-language knowledge. While machine translation tools provide a useful foundation, they are not a substitute for human oversight.
Utilizing Machine Translation
Tools like Google Translate and DeepL are recommended as initial aids. However, the final output must be revised to ensure it is accurate and natural. Translators are expected to follow specific LLM (Large Language Model) translation guidelines to refine the text and correct machine-generated errors.
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Verification and Quality Control
Not all content is suitable for translation. If the source text appears unreliable or of low quality, it should be omitted. Whenever possible, translators should verify the facts using the references provided within the original foreign-language article to maintain scientific and historical accuracy.
Attribution and Documentation
Proper credit is essential to maintain copyright compliance. Every translation must be documented correctly within the Wikipedia system to ensure the original authors are acknowledged.
Edit Summaries and Interlanguage Links
When saving a translation, the contributor must provide a copyright attribution in the edit summary. This is done by including an interlanguage link to the source article. For example, a model summary would state: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing German Wikipedia article at [[:de:Dornstadt]]; see its history for attribution."
Talk Page Notification
In addition to the edit summary, contributors may add the {{Translated|de|Dornstadt}} template to the article's talk page to notify other editors of the translation source.
| Requirement | Standard/Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Usage | Machine translation as a starting point only | Efficiency and accuracy |
| Quality Check | Verify with original references | Fact-checking |
| Attribution | Interlanguage link in edit summary | Copyright compliance |
| Documentation | Optional talk page template | Editor transparency |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste text directly from Google Translate?
No. Machine translation is a starting point. You must revise errors and confirm accuracy according to the LLM translation guidelines before adding the text to English Wikipedia.
What should I do if the German source text seems unreliable?
You should not translate text that appears to be low-quality or unreliable. Try to verify the information using the references cited in the original article.
How do I provide copyright attribution for a translation?
You must provide an interlanguage link to the source article in your edit summary, explicitly mentioning the source article and its history.
Is there a specific template for the talk page?
Yes, you may use the {{Translated|de|Dornstadt}} template (replacing the article name as necessary) on the talk page to indicate the translation source.