Wikipedia Translation Guidelines for Spanish Content
Expanding the reach of knowledge requires the careful translation of high-quality content across languages. When translating articles from Spanish to English on Wikipedia, contributors must balance the efficiency of modern technology with the necessity of human oversight to maintain encyclopedic standards.
Key Facts
- Machine translation (such as 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.
- Only reliable, high-quality text should be translated; unreliable content must be excluded.
- Copyright attribution is mandatory via interlanguage links in the edit summary.
The Translation Process
The process of moving content from a Spanish source to an English destination involves several critical steps to ensure accuracy and reliability. While tools like Google Translate and DeepL provide a useful foundation, they are not substitutes for a human editor.
Utilizing Machine Translation
Machine translation refers to the use of software to translate text automatically. While these tools accelerate the process, translators are required to follow the LLM (Large Language Model) translation guidelines. This involves reviewing the output for nuances, correcting grammatical errors, and confirming that the scientific or factual meaning remains intact.
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Verification and Quality Control
Not all content is suitable for translation. Editors are instructed to avoid translating text that appears low-quality or unreliable. To ensure the integrity of the English version, translators should verify the claims using the references provided in the original foreign-language article.
Attribution and Documentation
Proper credit is essential for maintaining copyright compliance. When submitting a translation, the editor must provide a clear attribution in the edit summary.
The Edit Summary
A model attribution summary should include an interlanguage link to the source. For example: "Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Norma Pons]]; see its history for attribution."
Talk Page Templates
In addition to the edit summary, contributors may add the {{Translated|es|Norma Pons}} template to the article's talk page to notify other editors of the source material.
Translation Summary Table
| Requirement | Standard/Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Usage | Machine translation as a starting point only | Efficiency and speed |
| Review Process | Manual revision per LLM guidelines | Accuracy and quality |
| Content Selection | Verify references; exclude low-quality text | Reliability |
| Attribution | Interlanguage link in edit summary | Copyright compliance |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste 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 text to Wikipedia.
What should I do if the Spanish source seems unreliable?
You should not translate text that appears to be low-quality or unreliable. Whenever possible, verify the information using the references cited in the original article.
How do I provide copyright attribution for my translation?
You must provide an interlanguage link to the source article in your edit summary, explicitly mentioning the source and its history for attribution.
Is there a specific template for translated articles?
Yes, you may add the {{Translated|es|Source Name}} template to the talk page of the article.