TRANSLATIHAN ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) – Version September 2, 2019

 

A. Translatihan general information

 

·       What is Translatihan?

Translatihan (https://translatihan.com), a contraction of the English word ‘translation’ and the Indonesian word ‘latihan’ (exercise, practice) is a free non-commercial internet website for multilanguage translations. The website was established in 2017 by Ryan van Roode (creator) and Mark van Roode (manager).

·       What languages are available on Translatihan?

At this time there are 10 languages supported on the website: English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish and Russian. There is also a ¡Multilingo!  option for other languages.

·       On which electronic devices can I access Translatihan?

The translatihan.com website can be accessed and used via desktop and laptop computers, tablets and smartphones.

·       What information is on the Translatihan Homepage?

Visit the homepage by clicking on ‘TRANSLATIHAN’ at the left-hand corner of the header bar. The home page shows whether you are logged in or out, a welcoming message, the language couple (languages translated from and to), recent activity on the website, and statistical information on the language couples.

·       How can I get answers to questions about Translatihan?

If you have any questions, visit the FAQ [https://translatihan.com/faq/], post your question to the discussion board [https://translatihan.com/discussions/], or just send an email [translatihan@gmail.com].

·       How is my privacy as a user of the Translatihan website protected?

 

https://translatihan.com is a secure website. Users of the website are known to each other only by the usernames they themselves have selected. Access to the website is password-protected. The website is free from advertisements and other commercial content.

 

B. Registration and Login

·       How do I register for Translatihan?

Go to the registration link: https://translatihan.com/.  Register by entering a username and password you select and your email address. Your username should be different from your email address. Your password cannot be too similar to your other personal information, it must contain at least 8 characters, it can't be a commonly used password, and it can't be entirely numeric. You are asked to confirm your password. Following registration, you’ll see the message: ‘You are now registered. Activation email sent.’ Open the activation email on your email account which reads: ‘Activate account at translatihan.com’ and click on the link (the link is valid for 3 days). After having clicked the link, you’ll see the message: ‘Your account is now activated’ and you are invited to login, either directly in the email or on the translatihan.com website.

·       How do I login?

While in https://translatihan.com/, click on Login at the header bar. Enter the username and password you have selected and click on the “Log in” button.

·       How do I know that I am logged in?

You can check that you are indeed logged in by looking at the header bar on any Translatihan page. If you see ‘Login’ then you are not logged in. Click on ‘Login’ and you’ll be invited to type in your username and password and to click the ‘Log in’ button. Your username and password may already appear once you click ‘Login’ on the header bar and simply clicking the ‘Log in’ button will give you access to Translatihan.

·       What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

In case you have forgotten your password, click ‘Reset it!’ Type your email address in the box and click the ‘Submit’ button. The following message appears: ‘Email with password reset instructions has been sent’. Open the email which has the following message: ‘Reset password at translatihan.com’ with a link. Click on the link and you’ll be sent to translatihan.com with the request to submit a new password. Reset the password by typing it in the designated box. The password format has been described under ‘How do I register for Translatihan?’. You are asked to confirm the new password by typing it in a second box. Then, press the ‘Submit’ button. You will be sent to the login page. Now, log in as described above with your username and new password.

·       How do I logout from Translatihan?

You can always log out by pressing the ‘Logout’ button (header bar, far right).

·       How do I communicate problems with registration and/or login?

Any problems with registration and/or login can be communicated by email to the website manager – translatihan@gmail.com.

 

C. Uploading of texts for translation

·       Which texts are available for translation on Translatihan?

 

Texts that are available on Translatihan are literary works (novels, plays, poetry), material that is informative or technical, articles from various publications (newspapers, magazines, etc.), as well as other material published on hard copy or available on the internet.

 

·       Who can upload the texts for translation on Translatihan?

 

The texts for Translatihan are uploaded by the users of the website themselves. All members who have successfully registered for translatihan.com can select and upload suitable texts.

 

·       Which texts are deemed suitable for uploading to Translatihan?

 

Texts that are not subject to copyright restrictions, that are free from-commercial content, meet generally accepted standards of decency, and do not defame or invade the privacy of an individual can be uploaded to Translatihan.

 

·       What copyright restrictions should I be aware of?

 

Published works are usually copyright-restricted for a period of 70 years after the death of the creator. This applies to original publications as well as derived works, such as translations. Copyright for articles from newspapers and magazines is determined by their publishers. A text can be exempted from copyright infringement under a Creative Commons License. Wikipedia articles and material from government publications are usually not copyright-restricted.

 

·       Do I need to prepare a text prior to uploading it to Translatihan?

 

It is recommended to format a text before uploading it to Translatihan. Ensure the text is a faithful copy from its original.  Format the text in paragraphs, separated by a blank line. Sentences should be ended with a period. In case a sentence ends in a quotation mark, it’s best to place the period after “ or ».

 

·       How do I upload a well-prepared text to Translatihan?

 

Click on ‘Upload a Text’ on the header bar which will send you to the upload menu. Click inside the ‘Language’ box and then click on the language of the text. Type or copy and paste from the prepared text the title inside the ‘Title’ box. Next, copy and paste the text of the article into the box labeled ‘Body’. The text can be copied and pasted in whole or parts can be added sequentially. Indicate the level of difficulty of the text inside the ‘Difficulty’ box. Click on ‘Upload Text’ and ‘Accept’ the restrictions for uploading of a text. The text is now uploaded and ready to be translated. Before clicking the ‘Accept’ button, check the text for completeness below.

 

·       When is a text ready to be accepted for uploading?

 

Check that the correct language is indicated. Is the title placed in the ‘Title’ box? Add the name(s) of the author(s) and year of publication in the ‘Title’ or ‘Body’ box? Make the title, authors, year also the first translation unit in the ‘Body’ box. Check that sentences are properly ended with a period and that paragraphs are separated by a blank line. If a link is available, has it been included, preferably as the last translation unit? A link typically doesn’t end with a period.

 

·       How do I establish the level of difficulty of a text?

 

There are several ways to assess the level of difficulty of a text. Experienced translators who have worked on a large number of translations sense quickly whether a text is ‘Easy’, ‘Medium’ or ‘Hard’ and whether it can be labeled ‘Beginner’.

 

·       Is there a method to assess the level of difficulty of a text?

 

There are also formulas that can help with the difficulty assessment. One of these for the English language is the Flesch Reading-Ease Test.

 

FRES test score = 206.835 – 1.015 (total words/total sentences) – 84.6 (total syllables/total words).

 

The score and accompanying school grade level are automatically computed after you do a review of the text as an MS Word document. In the MS Word file, click ‘Review’ on the header bar, click ‘Spelling & Grammar’, spell check the document and the FRES score range and school grade level are automatically computed.   You can use this recommendation as a guide: Score 100.0-90.0: ‘Beginner’ – 90.0-70.0: ‘Easy’ – 70.0-50.0: ‘Medium’ – 50.0-0: ‘Hard’. For a non-English language text, create a quick while imperfect translation in English of the text or a 100-word section of the text via Google Translate and subject the English translation to the Flesch Reading-Ease Test.

 

·       What do I do when an uploaded text is erroneous?

There could be various reasons why an uploaded text is erroneous. Perhaps it was assigned the wrong language. Or the text has serious flaws in its content, e.g. part of the text is missing, or part of the text is inadvertently repeated. While an uploaded text cannot be edited, it can be removed. Simply, write a note to translatihan@gmail.com or contact the Translatihan manager, (username markvanroode), by writing a message to his profile under ‘Discussion’. The text will be reviewed and, if found erroneous, removed. Any upvotes given to the text will be honored, but the translations themselves will no longer be visible to the users.

D.   Translation.

 

·       How are texts translated in Translatihan?

After a text has been uploaded, Translatihan splits the text into ‘translation units’, consisting of one or several sentences, usually ended with a period. Each of these units can be translated by one or several translators.

·       How do I find the texts for translation?

First, go to the homepage and select the languages you want to translate from and to by clicking in the drop-down boxes. Click ‘Translate’ in the blue box next to the language couple. A list of all texts available in the language you selected appears.

·       What does the color of the box to the left of the title of the text signify?

Light-grey indicates text that has not been translated, blue that some or all of the text has been translated but not checked by other translators, green that part of the translated text that has been checked by other translators and red that a text has been fully translated and checked.

·       How do I select a text for translation?

Select a text that does not have a red box, preferably with a box with some light-grey area, i.e. there is still text to be translated. Click on the title of the text in light-blue. You are sent to a 2-column page. The left-hand column shows the text in the original language. The right-hand column shows the text with any translations already done. The red dots mark the translation units. If you are relatively new to Translatihan it is recommended that you select a text wit a level of difficulty that is not above your skill level.

·       How do I start translating?

Focus on the right-hand column of the 2-column page. Text in normal print but with a shaded background indicates translation units that have not been translated yet. Text in faded grey shows the units that have been translated, but have not been checked and received upvotes yet. Text in normal print includes units that have been translated and checked and upvoted. Let’s assume you select a unit with a shaded background; it has not been translated yet. Click on the translation unit, either in the left-hand or right-hand column. You are being sent to a translation page. 

·       How do I translate on the translation page?

 

Type your translation in the box below the original text of the translation unit. Check carefully that your translation is OK and click ‘translate to (the language of translation)’. Your translation will now appear below the text of the translation unit in the original language.

 

·       Can I edit my translation?

You can edit your translation provided (1) no other translation has been submitted after yours, (2) your translation has not been upvoted by another translator, and (3) no comments have been made for your translation, including an explanation provided by you under the translation. You can edit your translation by clicking ‘edit translation’, making the changes and clicking ‘Update’. You can also cancel the edit by clicking ‘Cancel’. You can delete your translation by clicking the red ‘Delete’ button.

·       Can I edit the translation of another translator?

No, only the original translator can edit his or her translations.

·       Can I submit a translation when an earlier translation has been done?

Yes, you can submit a new translation at any time.

·       What is the function of the discussion box on the translation unit page?

Its primary function is to enable translators to comment on the translations, suggest improved translations and corrections. It has become practice in Translatihan to suggest improvements to a translation and leave it up to the original translator to incorporate these comments in a new translation. If incorporation of the comments would result in a significantly different translation then it is recommended that the translator making the comments submits a new translation.

·       How do I know that other translators have commented on my translations?

Going to the Translatihan Welcome page and scanning the ‘Recent Activity’ reveals whether another translator has recently commented on one or several of your translations. Often, the comment begins with your username. Alternatively, going to the 2-column text format and reviewing the right-hand column reveals whether translation units you worked on have been viewed by other translators. A translation unit which is faded grey may have been commented on. Clicking it sends you to the unit where you can read the comments, make appropriate changes and resubmit your translation.

·       What do I do when another translator is working on a text, I would like to translate?

If it is observed that a translator is busy translating a specific section of a text, others often either wait till this translator has finished for the time being or move further down the text so as not to interfere with the first translator’s efforts. If a translator is taking a break for an extended period of time, comments such as, ‘I am done for the time being,’ or ‘To you’, etc., are helpful so that other translators feel free to start translating.

·        How do I navigate through a text to access other translation units?

You can navigate the translation unit page by clicking either ‘Next Unit’ or ‘Previous Unit’ in the top right-hand corner. You can also click on the title of the text under the header bar to be sent back to the 2-column format of the text, so you can click on another translation unit.

·       Can I translate a text all by myself?

Translating on Translatihan is a collaborative process. Each of the translators have access to all the texts and can translate at any time. The discussions on the translation page are an essential feature of this process. The final translation of a text is therefore often the result of this collaboration. But a translator is free to translate by himself or herself if no other translator joins in.

 

E. Translation evaluation – Upvoting

·       How are translations evaluated?

In Translatihan it is the fellow translators who evaluate the translations. This process has several aspects. Translators comment on each other’s translations, give upvotes or submit alternative translations.

·       What is upvoting in Translatihan?

If a translation has been submitted, and another translator thinks it is acceptable, then the latter translator can upvote this translation by clicking the blue triangle to the left of the translation. For the first upvote, the translation gets the number one. For each additional upvote, the number next to the translation increases by one.  If this translation is the leading translation then it gets a green checkmark beside it. If you give a translation an upvote, then the color of the triangle changes to red. The triangle doesn’t turn red when another translator gives an upvote to your or other’s translations.

·       Can I upvote my own translations?

No, only other translators can upvote your translations.

·       Can a translation receive more than one upvote?

Yes, a translation can receive multiple upvotes. At this time there is no limit to the number of upvotes a translation can receive.

·       Can several translations in a unit receive upvotes?

Yes, more than one translation can receive upvotes. But the green checkmark will appear next to the most recently upvoted translation since that translation is likely to be the best.

·       Does upvoting affect my translation record in Translatihan?

Yes, it does. A tally is being kept of each translator’s upvotes in the language couples in which he or she participates. Active translators may accumulate many upvotes over time. The cumulative upvotes are also a measure for the growing proficiency of a translator in a specific combination of languages.

·       How do I know that other translators have upvoted my translation?

At this time, there is no clear signaling system for upvotes.  It is recommended that translators review the texts they have worked on and observe where upvotes have been given.

·       How can I see the record of my upvotes?

You can see the record of your upvotes or those of other translators by clicking on the username in a colored box on any of the working pages of Translatihan. This will send you to the profile page of yourself or that of another translator. The number of upvotes accumulated for each of the language couples are tabulated to the right of the profile page in colored boxes with the username inside.

·       What do the colors of the boxes with the number of upvotes signify?

The colors of the boxes signify upvote-milestones achieved by the translators: Yellow: 0 - Orange: 1000 – Red: 3000 – Dark red: 6000 – Purple: 10 000 – Dark purple: 15 000 – Dark blue: 20 000 – Medium blue: 25 000. The colors for boxes for the milestones linked to further 5000-upvote increments will be determined by the website creator.

 

F.    The translator’s profile page

 

·       What is the profile page?

 

The profile page in Translatihan presents an opportunity for the users to follow their own translations, participate in discussions with other translators and include a description the translators provide about themselves and their interest in languages and translation. The profile page is only visible and accessible to those who have registered for the website and who are logged in.

 

·       How can I access the profile page?

You can access your profile page by pressing ‘Profile’ on the header bar or pressing the box with your username anywhere in Translatihan. The profile page of any translator can be accessed by pressing a box with his or her username.

·        What information does the “Recent Activity” tab provide?

 

Clicking the ‘Recent Activity’ tab shows a chronological list of translations and comments of the translator within his or her profile.

 

·       What is the function of the ‘Discussion’ tab?

Clicking the ‘Discussion’ tab reveals a chronological list of communications from other translators to the profile owner.

·       What is the function of ‘Edit Profile’?

Pressing ‘Edit Profile’ reveals a ‘Bio’ box and an ‘Image’ box.  The translator can write a short biography, giving personal details he or she wishes to share with other translators, such as country and city of residence, native language, languages of study, personal interests, etc. The Image box enables a user to upload a picture representing the user to the Translatihan community. The upload can be done by clicking the Browser button which can access the user’s picture folders. Pressing the ‘Submit’ button completes the Bio and Image upload. The Bio can be edited and the Image replaced by another.

·       What is the bell image on the header bar for?

 

A white colored bell appears to the left of ‘Profile’ on the header bar when another translator has sent you a message.  Clicking the bell will direct you to your profile page where you can read the message under ‘Discussion’.

 

G.   Discussion

 

·       What is the purpose of discussion in Translatihan?

Discussion tabs are incorporated at various positions in the translatihan.com website. They provide opportunities for the translators to communicate and discuss specific aspects of Translatihan and translation. At this time there are five discussion tabs.

·       What is the function of Discussion on the Translatihan header bar?

This provides a forum for topics of discussion of interest to all users of the website, such as translators’ observations, recommendations and concerns, suggestions for improvement of the website, helpful tips for translators, etc.

·       What is the purpose of Discussion within the profile page?

This is intended for communication among the translators and has been discussed under the profile section.

·       What is the function of Discussion under the language couples?

Since the translations take place within each language couple this discussion forum provides an opportunity to communicate about topics of general interest to the language couple, such as the selection and translation of texts, etc.

·       What is the use of Discussion on the text page?

The two-column view for each text has its own tab for discussion of interest to this text. For example, the website user who submitted the text may provide the reasons for selecting the text, information about the text or its author, a statement that a specific text is a chapter of a book and that other chapters will be subsequently uploaded, etc.

·       What function does Discussion serve on the translation unit page?

 

This has been described in the ‘Translation’ section.

 

·       Who can view the Discussions?

The general discussion and the profile discussion can only be viewed by registered users that have logged in. The discussions for the individual language couples, uploaded texts, and the individual translation units can be viewed on the internet by those interested, but that have not registered or are not logged in by clicking https://translatihan.com.

 

H.   Miscellaneous

 

·       Does Translatihan keep a record of the translations?

Translatihan maintains extensive records of the translations, some of which can be consulted by the translators. A report is issued at the end of each month on the general discussion forum, listing the number of registrants to the website, the total number of translations, number of upvotes and number of comments, for the month.

·        How does Translatihan communicate stats for the language couples?

For each text in a language couple, the number of translation units, percent translated and percent upvoted are provided with chronological data on the page summarizing the texts for the individual language couples. For each language couple a summary listing is also maintained for all texts: the total number of translations, the total number of upvotes, the total number of texts in the source language and the number of texts for which the translation has been completed as well as a listing of all translators that have contributed to the translation process is also available with their rank by milestone color and total number of upvotes.

·        What are some of the guidelines for translating on Translatihan?

In general, Translatihan management takes a hands-off approach to the activities on the website, and focuses instead on maintaining the functioning and quality thereof. Translators themselves have developed many of the unwritten modes of behavior for the website. Some of these have been described in previous sections of the FAQ, such as leaving it up to the original translator to incorporate helpful suggestions and corrections in a new translation.