LinkedIn Translation Controversy

Translators Reject LinkedIn’s Request for Free Services

A customer survey recently launched by LinkedIn addressing thousands of its translator members caused many ATA (American Translators Association) members and other professional translators to be outraged. The “survey” seemed to be aimed at determining those translators who are willing to translate LinkedIn’s website into other languages for free.

 

The third question of the survey asked what “incentive” translators would prefer. However, the possible answers did not include any forms of payment. Choices included “because it’s fun”, “upgraded LinkedIn account”, and “other” all of them indicating that LinkedIn was looking for volunteers to localize their website.

 

 This is controversial for two reasons. Professional translators view this request as highly disrespectful towards them and their work especially from a networking site for professionals. Many members would be happy to volunteer for charities or not-for-profit institutions but not a for-profit business like LinkedIn.

Apart from that, the concept of volunteers working on such a group effort called “crowdsourcing” has not always resulted in quality translations. This was the case with Wikipedia and Facebook who have also localized their websites using volunteers. According to Jiri Stejskal, president of the American Translators Association, companies often “lose their face and money” when using volunteers who turn out to be incompetent. Poor translations then need to be corrected by qualified professionals, such as ATA members, in the end.

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