Google launches ‘Love Your Language Nepal’ campaign
Kathmandu, September 23
Google has launched a campaign called ‘Love Your Language Nepal’ to improve Nepali language
in Google. As part of the initiative, the internet giant is hosting its first translate-a-thon event series in
Kathmandu, to reduce the language barrier for Nepali speakers on the web, at home and around the world.
The campaign was announced on Tuesday amid a function in the Capital. Google has invited Nepali translators, language experts and language lovers to help improve the quality of Nepali translations online.
“We believe Google tools in the hands of Nepali users can help build a web that works for this country, its people and the Nepali language,” said Google Asia Pacific’s Amy Kunrojpanya, head of Public Affairs and Communications for New Emerging Markets.
Kunrojpanya, said that Google introduced the campaign to open up the technology that powers Google Translate to communities passionate about their language in Nepal. The move will help improve the understanding and quality of Nepali translations, which in turn can help preserve and promote Nepali culture and language online.
Google has developed a free crowd-sourced translation tool ‘Google Translate Community’, which works with just a few clicks or swipes on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop to involve interested ones in translation. Even just a few minutes of contribution in the community can help millions of Nepalis around the world receive better translations, according to Google.
Google has also introduced Google Handwriting Input for Nepali, which gives internet users a
simple way to input text on their smartphone or tablet by writing out Nepali characters with their finger
or stylus pen. For those who find it difficult to use small keyboards in complex language scripts, or for older internet users who find typing to be a barrier, Google Handwriting can help them gain access to Nepali web content and the wider world.
Till September 30, Google will hold a series of Love Your Language translate-a-thons in Kathmandu in partnership with Language Technology Kendra and more than 40 local academic institutions, organisations and businesses, according to Kunrojpanya. The translate-a-thon had started on September 21.
Even if one cannot make it to an event, those interested can still join online at translate.google.com/community.