When we contact an organisation to add the OSM attribution to their webpage, the question of languages other then english - How to adapt ? Often I observe that OSM attribution is not translated.
But What’s OSM is suggesting about this ? I decided to look at it more closely and with modification of my OSM preferences, I was able to see rapidly that the OSM main page + OSM attribution link at the bottom of the page are translated in many languages. It would be interesting to know how much and what are the plans for the future.
OSM attribution - a few examples
- EN © OpenStreetMap contributors
- FR © Contributeurs OpenStreetMap
- DE © OpenStreetMap Beitragende
- ES © Colaboradores de OpenStreetMap
- RU © Авторы OpenStreetMap
- UK © Учасники OpenStreetMap
- JA © OpenStreetMapの貢献者
The OSMF Communication Working Group (CWG) is an important voice for the OSM Foundation and community and they have made great efforts in the last years to assure better diversity of the OSM community. And Language is an important aspect for the communities around the world to feel recognized and to offer them a better publicity among people that speak their language.
But I think that the Copyright page, surely quite technical, needs some little re-formatting. It is translated in various languages but the Image for OSM attribution is systematically in english. It could be corrected relatively easily to better orient the developpers of webmaps using OSM, clearly showing the possibility to translate the attribution to their local language.
As this is the period of the year to have some wishes
With little modifications, this page could better promote OpenStreetMap. A list of countries that contribute ot is listed but it would be interesting to take the opportunity to announce the OSM Community and OSM based producs (webmaps, mobility products, etc). A short space at the top of the page could do that. It could be done either by few buttons to each aspect or by an OSM Menu button.