Wikipedia Translation Guidelines for Japanese Content
Translating content from Japanese Wikipedia into English is a valuable way to expand global knowledge. However, ensuring the quality and legality of these contributions requires a disciplined approach. To maintain the integrity of the encyclopedia, contributors must move beyond simple translation and engage in a process of verification and refinement.
The Role of Machine Translation
Tools such as DeepL and Google Translate serve as efficient starting points for the translation process. While these machine translation services provide a foundational draft, they are not a substitute for human oversight. Translators are required to follow the LLM (Large Language Model) translation guideline to ensure the final text is natural and accurate.
It is strictly prohibited to simply copy-paste machine-translated text directly into English Wikipedia. Every translation must be revised to correct errors and confirmed for factual accuracy before publication.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Quality Control and Verification
Not all source material is suitable for translation. Contributors should avoid translating text that appears unreliable or is of low quality. To ensure the highest standards, it is recommended to verify the claims in the foreign-language article using the references provided within that source.
Categorization and Templates
Proper organization is essential for discoverability. With 1,457 articles already existing in the main category, contributors are encouraged to specify a topic using the | topic = parameter in the template to aid in precise categorization.
Copyright and Attribution Requirements
Because Wikipedia content is licensed, proper attribution is a legal necessity. When submitting a translation, you must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary. This is achieved by providing an interlanguage link to the original source.
A standard model for the edit summary is: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at [[:ja:J SPORTS]]; see its history for attribution." Additionally, the {{Translated|ja|J SPORTS}} template may be added to the article's talk page for further transparency.
Key Facts
- Machine Translation: Useful as a starting point but requires manual revision and adherence to LLM guidelines.
- Verification: Low-quality or unreliable text should not be translated; use source references for verification.
- Attribution: Mandatory copyright attribution via interlanguage links in the edit summary.
- Categorization: Use the
| topic =parameter to help organize content among the 1,457 existing main category articles.
| Requirement | Action Needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Usage | Revise machine-translated text | Ensure accuracy and readability |
| Source Quality | Verify with references | Prevent unreliable content |
| Attribution | Add interlanguage link to edit summary | Legal copyright compliance |
| Organization | Specify | topic = |
Improve categorization |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Translate for Wikipedia articles?
Yes, but only as a starting point. You must revise the output for errors and follow the LLM translation guidelines rather than copy-pasting the text directly.
How do I handle unreliable source text?
You should not translate text that appears to be low-quality or unreliable. Whenever possible, verify the information using the references provided in the original foreign-language article.
Where do I put the copyright attribution?
Attribution must be placed in the edit summary accompanying your translation, specifically by providing an interlanguage link to the source article.
What is the purpose of the | topic = parameter?
Since there are already 1,457 articles in the main category, specifying a topic helps the system categorize the new article more accurately.
Is the {{Translated}} template mandatory?
While the edit summary attribution is required, you may also add the {{Translated|ja|Source Name}} template to the talk page for additional documentation.