Supervised by Dr. Fahad Otaif, Assistant Professor of Critical Discourse Analysis and Translation, a team of postgraduate female students from the College of Languages and Translation (clt) participated in the "WikiDowen" project during the Spring 2021 semester. The WikiDowen Project, under the administration of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), aims to enrich and increase the Arabic content on Wikipedia; although Arabic is the fourth most popular language in the world, the Arabic content on Wikipedia still ranks 25th in terms of volume.
🇸🇦 WikiDowen Project: Boosting Arabic Content
Participants: Postgraduate female students (CLT)
Supervisor: Dr. Fahad Otaif
Administration: King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah)
Goal: Enrich Arabic content on Wikipedia (currently 25th by volume despite being 4th most popular language).
Dr. Otaif praised the postgraduate students who worked hard, saying that: "the students were really motivated to take part in this initiative, they worked hard to translate more scientific content. The initiative resulted in 50 articles translated from English into Arabic. The translated topics ranged from medical topics, to psychology, Artificial Intelligence as well as engineering. The translated articles were compiled in a digital booklet to document the scientific outcomes of the initiative".
🌟 Student Translators' Impact
"...students were really motivated...worked hard to translate more scientific content." - Dr. Fahad Otaif
50
Articles Translated (English to Arabic)
Diverse Topics Covered:
Medicine, Psychology, AI, Engineering
Outcome Documented:
Digital Booklet of Translations
Dr. Otaif added, "the WikiDowen's Project manager, Dr. Zuhair Al-Shehri, and his deputy Ms. Reem Al-Mutairi also played a vital role in helping the new Wikipedians (translators) to post and edit their translations on the Arabic Wikipedia; this cooperation lasted for two months and was really fruitful for both parties."
🤝
Crucial Support & Fruitful Cooperation
WikiDowen Project Management: Dr. Zuhair Al-Shehri (Manager) & Ms. Reem Al-Mutairi (Deputy).
Role: Aided new Wikipedians (translators) with posting and editing on Arabic Wikipedia over two months.
Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Munassir Alhamami, added, "we are excited to be a part of this national volunteer initiative for the second year in a row; it provides our clt students the opportunity to participate in a field experience activity that is aligned with the learning outcomes we target in our language and translation programs."
"We are excited to be a part of this national volunteer initiative...it provides our clt students the opportunity to participate in a field experience activity aligned with our learning outcomes." - Dr. Munassir Alhamami, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies
Dr. Otaif added, "such initiatives and projects will grant our students valuable experience and help them in mastering the translation profession through which they will improve their professional background and job readiness; I do thank our Dean Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi and the vice dean for postgraduate studies at the College of Language and Translation for their endless support in this initiative and will continue to encourage similar initiatives at the clt in the near future en shaa' Allah."
🚀 Enhancing Student Professionalism & Future Outlook
Initiatives grant valuable experience, mastery of translation, improved professional background, and job readiness.
Acknowledgements: Dean Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi & Vice Dean Dr. Munassir Alhamami for their endless support.
Continued encouragement for similar initiatives at CLT (en shaa' Allah).
