Re: [Info-gnupedia]my 1st translation for gnupedia

[Heiko Andresen]

> 
> Hello Heiko and everyone!
> 
Hi Oleg,


> Heiko Andresen wrote:
> 
> > I did my first translation for the Gnupedia project:
> > 
> > Under http://www.geocities.com/heiko.andresen/Gnupedia/Esperanto.html is
> the german translation of Oleg's article about Esperanto available. More
> to come ...
> 
> Well, thank you, Heiko. Though I'd prefer if someone first contacted
> _me_ before doing the translation of my articles. Ever heard of
> netiquette? Lately I've got a couple of messages from people who think
> that GNU means "absolutely free" and "copycat open". Well, it's not!
> <surprise, surprise!> 

First of all, it was never my intention to break any netiquette, law, copyright 
or -left, or anyones right - I just wanted to help as I saw the mail (sorry, I 
can't refer on the author or date as I already deleted it) of the poor result 
of 4 (!) articles in GNUPedia. 

Second, I will offer my help and I'm willing to continue to translate from a 
language I speak (English, Portuguese) to my native language. If there are 
people who don't like my work I leave the project - no problem, there's enough 
work in the world.


> 
> There's a civil manner of offering translation services... And the very
> first step is: _CONTACT THE AUTHOR!_ There's more than this, like:
> consult with the author of the original article, verify your translation
> with the author, keep all the credits and so on, but now we talk about
> the basics here. Ask the author's permission before you're going to
> alter the text, and try to get his opinion. Don't get me wrong, I'm not
> being rude. I'm sure I'd _LOVE_ your translation... if you made it in
> the civil manner (see above).
> 

Third, you're right that it's a civil manner to contact the author before 
publishing a translated article - blame on me, but from my point of view I went 
the right way, because I anounced it only to the mailinglist with the awareness 
you'll read it. As I cannot know if you speak german I didn't think it were up 
to you who can check the correctness of my translation. I didn't see the 
necessity to do so because it should be the community who should control the 
correctness.


> For example, one kind lady - Astrid Schmitt - contacted me and offered
> her help with translating my articles into German. After we negotiated
> all the changes that we'd have to make in the German version, the work
> began. She made a great translation of my humble attempts to write the
> encyclopedia's articles, and I'm _very_ grateful for her time and
> efforts! Very soon these articles will be put online, I'll let you all
> know.
 
Of course that's the better way, but to complete the workflow there should be a 
short message "... I'm working on it ..." that I was missing (this morning I 
double-checked my mail before I started the translation). I think the 
entry-system should provide such a way of coordination in the future.

> Meanwhile, if anyone's willing to make translations of "Esperanto"
> and "Zamenhof L. L" articles into languages other than German, please
> contact me. I'm sure this work will be a fruitful one! ;)
> 

> Heiko, I think you may keep this version, but the only approved by the
> author German versions of the articles are those written by Astrid.
> Everyone's free to copy and distribute my articles in English and
> authorised translated versions. 
> 
Oleg, I'm not fixed on my version. If Astrid made a better job - 
congratulations and my files go to /dev/null

> I'm not challenging the principles of GNU license, I just want the
> process of creating new encyclopedia be enjoyable and beneficial for
> all. That means we have to make it with reciprocal respect and with
> civil manners. After all, we _don't_have_ to be polite in real- or
> cyber-life, but it works the best when we are! ;)
> 

I absolutely agree. We're in the beginning of a great project with just a few 
clearly defined/developed rules and mechanisms - we all have to learn.

> The best regards!
> 
> Oleg
> 

Heiko


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