![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ibabbleon.com\/copywriter-translator\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/camylla-battani-ABVE1cyT7hk-unsplash-edited-scaled.jpg\")
All for one?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n What could be better than all the people of the world coming together in harmony to translate your software into every language of the world \u2014 for FREE? <\/p>Facebook and Twitter did it, right? (Actually, not right.*<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n In reality, these crowdsourced translations by volunteers and fans are rarely done to completion. Nor are they very accurate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The next step is to bring in professional translators to \u201cfinish\u201d the localization of key languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sound familiar yet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The end result is a mix of professional and volunteer translators. Websites and apps are updated, and the cycle repeats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing a combination of professional and volunteer translators becomes really hard. The immediate consequence is inconsistent translations. These only become apparent later on once the company\u2019s localization strategy becomes more serious and formalized.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the pros and cons, and how to manage the problems that arise from hybrid localization projects with both professional translators and volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using volunteer translators \u2013 typically referred to as crowdsourced localizations<\/strong> or fan translation<\/strong> \u2013 sounds like a great strategy at first. It has some fantastic benefits, such as…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowdsourcing localizations rarely plays out as you\u2019d expect. What you don\u2019t pay for in money, you usually pay for in time, human resources, and quality assurance. The not-so-apparent downsides to volunteer translators include…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiring professional translators or a localization vendor has more obvious advantages and disadvantages, but let\u2019s summarize them anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCrowdsourcing translations pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fan translators are not paid. They work because of their own personal interest in the app or service, as well as the language.\u00a0<\/li>
Depending on your app and the size of the community, you might already have a large group of users who want the app available in their language and are willing to work on it themselves.<\/li>
Because they are familiar with the app\u2019s style and content, they should be able to translate it well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nCrowdsourcing translations cons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Crowdsourced](\"https:\/\/www.ibabbleon.com\/copywriter-translator\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/sasan-rashtipour-K6QvBBT17qE-unsplash-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Crowdsourcing requires a crowdsourcing platform (we recommend Crowdin<\/a>), a localization manager<\/a> and engineers to oversee the project, recruit volunteers, train volunteers on the platform, answer context questions, and somehow perform quality control.<\/li>
Community translators work for free \u2014 and at their own pace. Progress is characteristically sluggish and completion amounts can vary greatly between languages. The app will have an odd mix of translated and untranslated text in all languages.\u00a0You can\u2019t give a deadline to a volunteer.<\/em><\/li>
Volunteer translators tend to be translation-hobbyists, bilingual speakers with no translation training or vetted language proficiency. Worse yet, some are language learners who want to practice their skills at your expense. In rare but serious situations, it attracts trolls who replace your texts with obscenities. (Yes, this happens.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhat are the pros and cons of professional translators?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Disputing](\"https:\/\/www.ibabbleon.com\/copywriter-translator\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/birmingham-museums-trust-adudERb6uDM-unsplash-1024x742.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ibabbleon.com\/copywriter-translator\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/dan-meyers-hluOJZjLVXc-unsplash-edited-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n