Hmmm.... According to a Techcrunch article (follow the link), Facebook is now tapping in on its multilingual users to create translated versions of the site. And this is where I stop being amazed with Facebook. I confess: I am a Translator, it is my living; this site is a side dish, that I serve myself once every day to prevent me from going nuts with "administrative talk" and "this-product-does-this-and-does-that" packages.

I won't deny that encouraging your users to provide content is, to start with, a very good business. Asking them to translate that content is, also, good business. But what do they get in return? A free hug via the Free Hug application? Listen. Translation is a skill, and respectable businesses that do not hire their own talent pay a translator or a translation agency to perform the translation magic. In essence, what Facebook is trying to do is get away with is the talent but not the fee. Ok... So it makes sense from a business point of view. But how many professionals will be attracted by the offer? Keeping in mind that translation is a skill which is remunerated at a fee, sometimes a handsome fee, a free hug just might not be enough to actually attract talent, leaving facebook with a pool of unqualified candidates, and potentially a sub-par product.

Myspace Canada in Toronto had the website translated in French Canadian, and for a French Canadian, the product is far more attractive than the French fr.myspace.com. Localizing the content is a clear sign of respect for the user, and Myspace has shown respect in doing so. Facebook's initiative on the other hand is likely bound to attract poor talent, as well as create "idiom wars" (different locales mean different idioms, hence "localization"), in turn alienating some users.

According to techcrunch, the translation process is going to work this way: "Once users add the application and enable “translation mode,” they’ll be given phrases from pages they browse that need to be translated. Each phrase is an easy, bite-sized chunk. Once submitted, other users vote on the submissions and/or submit their own version." So... Let the translating gladiators roll in and fight for their word, deleting, rewriting, voting for their idioms, their locale. What it sounds like is the system couchsurfing had in place last year, with one main difference: couchsurfing is not-for-profit, therefore deserving.

But wait a second! Couchsurfing didn't pull it off! Their French site is subpar to say the least. For instance, on the French Home Page, there are three mistakes in Positive Experiences: Expériences takes an "é", and is plural, therefore Positive take an "S", and adjectives go after the noun; so this should have read : Expériences positives.

I am expecting similar results from Facebook's translation initiative, and this will not attract more users, on the contrary; it will aleniate some. Facebook may not know it yet, but it will eventually have to face the fact: You need professionals to do a professional's job, and these professionals will need to be remunerated as professionals. Submitting translations to the crowd doesn't mean the crowd will be wise enough to vote for the right translations; and crowds WILL form from different locales to outvote a crowd from a different locale. Think couchsurfing.

I think Facebook is kidding itself with this one. Looking forward to the result and the inevitable that will ensue. Facebook's move is a promise of further Facebook parodies to be posted on this site.