Wikipedia Translation Guidelines for Machine Translation
Translating content from one language to another is a vital part of expanding knowledge on Wikipedia. While modern tools make this process faster, maintaining the encyclopedia's quality requires a disciplined approach to machine translation—the use of software to translate text automatically.
Using Machine Translation Tools
Tools such as DeepL, Google Translate, and Large Language Models (LLMs) serve as excellent starting points for the translation process. However, these tools are not substitutes for human oversight. Translators are required to follow specific LLM translation guidelines to ensure the final output meets publication standards.
Rather than simply copy-pasting machine-generated text, editors must actively revise errors and confirm that the translation is accurate and natural in English.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Quality Control and Verification
Not all source material is suitable for translation. Editors should avoid translating text that appears to be low-quality or unreliable. To maintain integrity, it is recommended to verify the claims in the source text using the references provided within the original foreign-language article.
Copyright and Attribution Requirements
Proper attribution is mandatory to respect copyright laws. When publishing a translation, you must provide a copyright attribution in the edit summary. This is achieved by including an interlanguage link, which is a link that connects the new page to its original version in another language.
A standard model for this attribution is: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Ventas de Huelma]]; see its history for attribution."
Additionally, editors may add the {{Translated|es|Ventas de Huelma}} template to the talk page of the article for further transparency.
Key Facts
- Machine translation tools (e.g., DeepL, Google Translate) should be used as a starting point, not a final product.
- Manual revision is required to correct errors and ensure accuracy.
- Unreliable or low-quality source text should not be translated.
- Copyright attribution must be included in the edit summary via an interlanguage link.
- The
{{Translated}}template can be used on the talk page for attribution.
| Step | Action | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Draft | Use Machine Translation | Follow LLM guidelines |
| Review | Manual Revision | Verify accuracy and quality |
| Verification | Reference Check | Cross-reference with source citations |
| Publication | Attribution | Interlanguage link in edit summary |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste directly from Google Translate to Wikipedia?
No. You must revise the machine-translated text for errors and confirm its accuracy before adding it to the English Wikipedia.
What should I do if the source text seems unreliable?
You should not translate text that appears to be low-quality. If possible, use the references provided in the original article to verify the information.
How do I provide copyright attribution for a translation?
You must include an interlanguage link to the source article in the edit summary of your translation.
Is there a specific template for translated articles?
Yes, you may add the {{Translated}} template (specifying the source language and article) to the article's talk page.
Which machine translation tools are recommended?
The guidelines mention DeepL and Google Translate as useful starting points, provided they are followed by human revision.