[ubuntu-art] Language barrier for Participation - was Re: Artwork Team Logo - Submissions due today!

[Rob Oakes]

Hi Leandro,

Thanks for sharing some of your thoughts.  This has been a very interesting thread.

> Yes, and some of us do. But the problem is when we want to 'push our work upstream' to the global community. All the process, teams and tools are English centric (maybe SU being one of the few exceptions).

While I empathize with your concerns, I'm not sure that this a solvable problem.  Contributor materials and instructions can be translated, but for collaboration to happen, people have to share a common tongue.  For centuries, this was Latin.  Now, it happens to be English.

It makes sense that Ubuntu (and other open source projects) would use the lingua franca of science, technology and business.  It prevents misunderstanding and disagreements.

For the past year or so, I've led a project that creates a backup program.  I've received contributions from people in Italy, Russia, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Mexico.  That kind of international collaboration would be impossible if we didn't all speak English.  Google translate can only get you so far.


> It's just not about translations. It's more about process and tools.

Perhaps there might be ways to mitigate the difficulties for those without English speaking members?  Maybe the translation team could help LOCOs prepare their applications, for example.  But language barriers aren't going away.  There isn't any process or tool that can replace the need for people to communicate.  Nor is it realistic for upstream to master all of the languages of downstream.  Like most downstream projects, upstream tends to be idea heavy, and resource poor.

I'd second Сергей's suggestion:

> Maybe we can make up lists of people who can be contacted in case Google Translate is not enough to understand a message, or if one wants to post something but doesn't know English. For example, I might be a contact for Russian language. While I don't contribute in a really meaningful way, at least I monitor all activity on this list, and [hopefully] know English enough to understand others and be understood.

Having some sort of central resource would make the most sense.  Is there a way to contact the translation team leaders and inquire if they could provide aid for downstream teams trying to prepare applications, patches, artwork, and proposals for upstream?  Are there entities outside of Ubuntu who might be able to help with this challenge?

Cheers,

Rob Oakes
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