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Article published In: The Journal of Internationalization and Localization
Vol. 6:1 (2019) ► pp.45–67

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Crowdsourcing localisation for non-profit projects

The client perspective

 | University of Limerick
 | University of Limerick
 | University of Limerick
 | University of Limerick
Published online: 16 May 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jial.18004.wil
Abstract
Trommons is an open-source, web-based platform administered by The Rosetta Foundation. The Rosetta Foundation has worked since 2009 to eradicate the information gap faced by communities under-served by commercial localisation, by making information accessible in the languages of those communities. In recent years we have conducted several studies into crowdsourced volunteer translation from the perspective of the client organisations. In this paper we are reporting on the finding of those studies, which include two survey questionnaires as well as semi-structured interviews with representatives of the non-profit organisations and staff at the Rosetta Foundation. The studies conducted provide insights into the following questions: Do organisations work with volunteers, and why? What reasons would make them not work with volunteers? What expectations do organisations have of volunteers, as well as a platform like Trommons, and are those expectations being met? What are the interactions between organisations and staff at the Rosetta Foundation?
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Terminology
    • 2.2Trommons in relation to popular crowdsourcing models
  • 3.Data collection and analysis
    • 3.1Interviews
    • 3.2Questionnaires
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Demographics
      • 4.1.1Staff interviews
      • 4.1.2Questionnaires
    • 4.2Perspectives on working with volunteers
      • 4.2.1Do organisations work with volunteers?
      • 4.2.2Why do organisations work with volunteers?
      • 4.2.3What do organisations want from volunteers?
      • 4.2.4Why would they not work with volunteers?
      • 4.2.5What do organisations think of crowdsourcing?
    • 4.3Organisations’ interactions with Trommons and the Rosetta Foundation
      • 4.3.1TRF staff interventions
      • 4.3.2Barriers to working with Trommons
  • 5.Conclusion, limitations and further research
  • Note
  • References
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