Google Invites Cambodia to Love Your Language Online

Phnom Penh, Friday 2nd October 2015: Google announced it will host its first “Love Your Language Cambodia” translate-a-thon campaign this weekend (October 2-3) in a dedicated effort to reduce the language barrier for Khmer speakers on the web, at home and around the world, through crowd-sourced translations.

Google is inviting Cambodian translators, language experts and language lovers to help improve the quality of Khmer translations online. Google Asia Pacific's Amy Kunrojpanya, Head of Public Affairs & Communications for New Emerging Markets, explained, “We believe Google tools in the hands of our Cambodian users can help build a web that works for this country, its people and the Khmer language. We're introducing the Love Your Language campaign to open up the technology that powers Google Translate to communities passionate about their language in Cambodia. Working together we can improve the understanding and quality of Khmer translations, which in turn can help preserve and promote Cambodian culture and language online.”

Google Translate Community, a free crowdsourced translation tool, works with just few clicks or swipes on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, and even just a few minutes can help millions of Cambodians around the world receive better translations. Google has also introduced Google Handwriting Input for Khmer, which gives internet users a simple way to input text on their smartphone or tablet by writing out Khmer 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 Khmer web content and the wider world.

Google will hold a series of Love Your Language translation-a-thons in Phnom Penh from October 2-4, in partnership with the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh International University and local Google Developer Groups. Can’t make it to an event? You can still help contribute online at g.co/translate/community.

[SEE ALSO: Khmer Language Now Available on Google Translate]

“If you’ve got accesses to the internet, no matter what device you have, you can help improve Khmer online. So why not take a few moments and let your feedback help millions?” added Ms. Kunrojpanya.

During the launch, I was also participanting and one point I learnt from her sharing was "If you want to help your language more popular online, please use it much on the net (website posts, articles on Wikipedia, blog posts, social media posts ...). Personally, I am the one of translation contributors in Cambodia, and I take some minutes in helping translations on this community few times per week.  So, have you tried to help our, Khmer language, contribution yet?