TranslationApp 1

For months, volunteer translators around the world have been using Facebook’s innovative Translations application to translate all 24,000 phrases on Facebook into Spanish, German, and French. Now, Facebook has opened up the Translation application to everyone in order to translate Facebook into every major language on earth.

How does it work?

1. Add the Translations app and choose your language. (Currently, there are translation projects going on in English, Français, Deutsch, Español, Català, Čeština, Dansk, Euskara, Galego, Italiano, 한국어, Magyar, Norsk, 日本語, Nederlands, Polski, Português do Brasil, Română, Русский, Slovenščina, Suomi, Svenska, ภาษาไทย, Türkçe, 中文(简体), 中文(繁體).)

2. Turn on in-line editing. This will highlight every word on Facebook that needs translating. You can click on each phrase and vote on translations submitted by others or submit a new translation yourself.

3. Browse the translations directory to view and translate more phrases. You can browse and vote on any of the 24,000 phrases. Facebook’s top translators have had thousands of translations accepted!

This is one of the most elegant approaches to localization I’ve seen, making it easy for everyone to contribute, if even only a word or two. Nice job, Facebook Translations team!