Increasing visibility of research and scholarship via language translation. A poster presentation at...

Increasing Visibility of Research and Scholarship via Language TranslationLilian Hoffecker, PhD MLS, Health Sciences Library, University of Colorado

Dana Abbey, MLS, NN/LM MidContinental

Objectives:To determine if translation of a slide presentation

increases its visibility and if there are variation in

visibility by language.

Methods:The open access model of scholarly

communication has increased visibility of

research by making publications freely

available. In order to test the possibility that

translation into non-English language may

enhance visibility of research the authors

translated an English language slide

presentation into three languages: Chinese,

Russian, and Japanese. All four versions were

uploaded to openly accessible sites including, a

university digital repository and a web-based

slide hosting service, to track their views and

downloads over several months.

Background:

Once dominated by Latin through the mid-17th

century scientific publication began its shift to

English. Today, more than half of the world's

technical and scientific periodicals are in English,

and English is the medium for 80% of the

information stored in the world's computers. But

only 5% of the world’s populations are native

English speakers which leaves many scientists

around the globe at a disadvantage. How can

native English researchers connect with non-

native English researchers, and vice versa?

Conclusions:• Posting on open access sites in different

languages increases visibility.

• Slide presentations or paper abstracts are short

and easily translated without high costs.

• Make sure the topic and the language are

meaningfully connected.

Recommendations:• Hire certified translation service.

• Post to open access site.

• If possible add metatags in

individual languages.

Translation services examples• Elsevier Language Services, English to

Chinese, 500 words, $337

• Straker Translation, .English to Japanese,

.17 to .25 per word

Why translate?• Establish new collaborations

• Potential to reduce duplication

of research efforts

• Awareness of other research

Acknowledgements:Chinese translation: Yumin Jiang, University

of Colorado, Health Sciences Library

Russian translation: John Hoffecker, Institute

of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of

Colorado

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For updates to the poster, go to Slideshare:http://www.slideshare.net/LilianTakahashiHoff

e/increasing-visibility-of-research-and-

scholarship-via-language-translation