Week5 ----Wikipedia Sandbox Editing---HE ZIXUAN

 1.summary

This week I completed a task in the Wikipedia sandbox: translating an English encyclopedia entry into Chinese. I also learned the formatting standards for Wikipedia editors, including reference format, paragraph structure, terminology, etc. In the translation process, I not only practiced language conversion, but also began to pay attention to the accuracy of the content, the clarity of expression, and the differences between cultures.

2.Interesting points

During the translation, I found that many words cannot be translated literally, especially those related to the unique systems or cultural backgrounds of certain regions. I need to not only translate into Chinese, but also think about how to explain it in accordance with the understanding habits of Chinese readers. From the citation format, external links, footnote numbers to the paragraph title level, Wikipedia's format requirements are quite strict.

Another interesting thing is that I forgot that I was "doing a task" while translating. For example, when translating a historical figure, I also read the story of his life; when translating a scientific concept, I also looked up information to make up for it.

3.Discussion

This sandbox translation made me realize that translating Wikipedia is not just "changing the language expression", it is more like a reconstruction. I must reorganize the sentence structure on the basis of maintaining the original meaning so that Chinese readers can read and understand it. Sometimes, an English expression is completely unnatural in the Chinese context, and I need to change the writing method to present it reasonably.   So the role of the translator, is it a "porter" or an "author"?


Comments

  1. YAN JINJINApril 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM

    This blog provides a clear and insightful look into translating Wikipedia entries. It effectively highlights the challenges of cultural adaptation and clarity for Chinese readers. A suggestion: adding specific examples of translation challenges would make the post even more engaging. The discussion on whether translators are "porters" or "authors" is thought-provoking and encourages reflection on the deeper role of translation.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction to the blog

This blog is a digital forum where students from Collective Intelligence in Practice: Understanding Wikipedia at the Hanyang University in Korea (2025) will discuss their weekly readings and activities. Each week you are expected to post a blog post on our blog and make a comment on another student's post. You can do so on one of the following three topics: a) You can blog about the readings for the next week. As you are expected to do the assigned readings FOR the lectures they are assigned to, you are expected to post your blog and comments BEFORE that lecture. An ideal commentary should be about half a page in length (~200 words), divided into three clearly labeled sections in which you: 1) summarize in your own words of materials you read; 2) mention any new, interesting, or unusual items learned; 3) identify at least one question, concern, or discussion angle that is either problematic in some respect or could have been elaborated more. This question is likely to be incor...
Read more

Week 1. My Recent Wikipedia Edits - Jeong seolah (정설아)

I made several edits to the Wikipedia page for 'Daegu'.  Daegu, located in the southeastern part of South Korea, is the third-largest urban area in the country, following Seoul and Busan. With a population exceeding 2.3 million, it is the fourth-largest metropolitan city in South Korea and the second-largest in the Yeongnam region after Busan. Often referred to together with the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province as Daegu-Gyeongbuk, this region is home to over 5 million residents. Known for its rich history and vibrant economy, Daegu stands as a key player in South Korea's cultural and industrial landscape. Below is a summary of the changes I contributed. 1) Summarize and link Sights Section:  - Improved clarity by changing “mountains keep many traditional temples” to “the mountains keep many traditional temples.” Mosque Controversy Section:  - Simplified a sentence by removing “and of the authorities.” Festivals Section:  - Made phrasing smoother by changing “tho...
Read more

Week4 - Review about the readings for the next week. - Jo HyeonSeong (조현성)

 1. Summarize in my own words of materials. The book is primarily about the openness of Wikipedia. Openness means that anyone can participate in the creation and editing of articles without any qualifications. Openness can be a double-edged sword. While it means that you can edit without having expert knowledge of a topic, it also means that you can participate even if you have expert knowledge. For experts, articles written by non-experts can come across as inaccurate knowledge, which can anger experts. This anger can also be a catalyst for Wikipedia to continue to improve. However, articles edited only by non-experts can cause misunderstandings and convey incorrect information, so openness can be considered a double-edged sword. In fact, it sometimes causes some conflict, such as Wales' negative stance. Openness also means freedom from copyright, which means anyone can take it and use it anywhere. That is why the knowledge of non-experts can have greater impact. That is why appro...
Read more