New concepts like “collaborative translation” and “crowdsourcing” have taken the stage in language services. As often happens during transitions, the terminology that describes these new phenomena is squishy. Recent news about Facebook getting translations done for free has reinvigorated the discussion. Let’s clarify what we mean by these terms. Since we first started discussing collaboration in translation in early 2007, we we have made several presentations on the topic, interviewed and discussed the issue with people who are actually doing it, and written a report on Collaborative Translation (December 2007). At Common Sense Advisory, we use the term “collaborative translation” to describe the process that allows crowdsourcing, community, and user-generated content translation.

• We recently wrote about a crowdsourcing initiative at OneHourTranslation.com. Crowdsourcing is the act of taking a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people, in the form of an open call.
• You can contrast this phenomenon with “community translation,” which is generally understood as volunteer (for example, see our posting on OpenOffice’s translation into Macedonian). However, these two terms don’t describe what we see happening in the market.

What we find most interesting for LSPs and GSBs (globalization service buyers) is how companies can use the elements of crowdsourcing in a controlled environment for working on large corporate projects in short periods of time. We see real potential in having collaboration increase value and reduce turnaround time. However, these benefits come at a price. At the very least, it involves an overhaul of the traditional sequential translation process and has implications to the sourcing of people, the use of technology, and the form of output of translations.

Are you interested in helping drive the discussion and improve the definition? We have organized a one-day colloquium on 5 June 2008 in Silicon Valley. As with our colloquia on vendor management, this session will be open only to GSBs. Let us know if you are interested in participating.