Language committees
Translate the dictionary
The dictionary and CRediT are released under CC-BY 4.0, which explicitly invites translations. Language committees convene on demand; the three-status system keeps the record honest.
Translation is a first-class part of the dictionary's reach. CRediT has been translated into more than a dozen languages by communities of practitioners around the world; the same model applies to the wider dictionary. Because every release sits under CC-BY 4.0, translation is not just allowed — it is explicitly invited, provided attribution is preserved.
The three-status system
Honesty about translation status matters. A user landing on a Spanish version of a term should know whether what they are reading has been signed off by a recognised committee, whether it is a community draft awaiting review, or whether the English-language entry is the only authoritative version. The status grid at /credit/translations records this for every language.
- Authorised translation. Reviewed and signed off by a language committee chaired by a recognised native-language practitioner in the domain. Carries the full editorial weight of the English original. Used in formal contexts (publisher author guidance, institutional policy, JATS contributor roles).
- Community draft. Contributed by community members, useful for orientation, not yet signed off. Carries a visible draft badge wherever it appears. Open for review; the language committee adopts when ready.
- Untranslated. No work yet in this language. The English entry is the only authoritative version. Translation candidates and committee chairs are recruited via this page.
How a language committee works
A language committee is convened when a critical mass of practitioners commits to the work. Typically that means a chair (often a librarian, translator, or domain practitioner with native-language standing) and two or three reviewers. The committee meets asynchronously, follows the same quarterly cycle as the English-language working groups, and signs off translations one batch at a time.
The procedural model follows the established pattern of community-translated standards — for example the multilingual rollout of the 14 CRediT roles, where the canonical English source is mirrored by community-stewarded translations in multiple languages.
What translators commit to
- Native-language fluency in the target language and working competence in English.
- Domain familiarity — the dictionary is technical; a translator with no exposure to research-administration terminology will struggle.
- A few hours per release cycle, sustained over at least one full cycle.
- Preservation of attribution. Every translation carries the original CASRAI authors and the language committee that signed it off. This is a CC-BY requirement and an editorial one.
How to start or join a committee
- Check the current status grid at /credit/translations. If a committee already exists for your language, the chair's name and contact are listed there.
- If no committee exists, write to [email protected] proposing one. Include the target language, your standing, and at least one co-reviewer who has agreed in principle.
- The editorial board confirms the convening and adds the committee to the public roster.
