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"Back in December we heard of Facebook's initial plans for its Translations application, which turned over portions of the translation process to its users across the globe.  Given Facebook's global expansion, having localized and translated versions of its site is important not just for readability and usability, but for effective penetration of various cultures around the world.  \nToday, some additional details about Facebook's Translation application, still in private beta, have been revealed, giving us a peek at the actual process behind how the application will fit into Facebook's larger goal of growth and expansion.  It's a truly crowdsourced effort of leveraging the Facebook users to get the job done.  After installing the application, Facebook users can translate a list of words and phrases that Facebook has provided, and they can also translate words throughout the site that Facebook has highlighted yellow.  \n\n\"The application also includes a voting system so users can decide what translation of a language they prefer,\" reports Eric Eldon of VentureBeat.  He adds, \"In translated versions, all content that users create in their native languages \u2014 status, birth date, political views \u2014 will appear in that language on the site. Translators also have the option of reporting inaccurate translations, or less-than-fluent translators.\"  \nWhile the entire translation of Facebook isn't being left up to the users, it is allowing them to provide input and direction throughout the entire process to professionals translating the site.  Is this really a cheaper, easier way to go?  To say the very least, the involvement of users on this level will make for an even deeper integration of localized, translated sites, which should be better for adoption rates on a global scale."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2008/01/23/facebook-translations-update/>