Terminology Terminology Across BordersAcross Borders::

A Partnership to Build a A Partnership to Build a Bilingual Tool for the Bilingual Tool for the

AmericasAmericas

Lori J. Finch, Thesaurus CoordinatorLori J. Finch, Thesaurus CoordinatorNational Agricultural Library, ARS, USDANational Agricultural Library, ARS, USDA

at USAIN, Purdue Universityat USAIN, Purdue UniversityMay 11, 2010May 11, 2010

Tesauro Agrícola Tesauro Agrícola Spanish/English version of Spanish/English version of NAL Agricultural Thesaurus NAL Agricultural Thesaurus Collaboration between: Collaboration between:

• Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on AgricultureAgriculture

• Orton Memorial Library,Orton Memorial Library, Turrialba, CR Turrialba, CR

• National Agricultural Library,National Agricultural Library, U.S. Dept of Agriculture U.S. Dept of Agriculture

Why create a thesaurus?Why create a thesaurus?

IICA libraries used IICA libraries used local terminologylocal terminology in order to enhance accessin order to enhance access

A multilingual thesaurus that A multilingual thesaurus that satisfied Latin American terminologysatisfied Latin American terminology and was regularly maintained did not and was regularly maintained did not existexist

Spanish Language StatisticsSpanish Language Statistics

Second most widely used language Second most widely used language in the in the worldworld, 328 million , 328 million (Ethnologue, 2009)(Ethnologue, 2009)

Second most widely spoken language Second most widely spoken language in the in the U.S.U.S.

(U.S. Census, 2000; Modern Language Association, 2005)(U.S. Census, 2000; Modern Language Association, 2005)

Most rapidly growing language in Most rapidly growing language in U.S. U.S. agricultural sectoragricultural sector

(USDA, NASS, Census of Agriculture, 2007)(USDA, NASS, Census of Agriculture, 2007)

Third most widely used language for Third most widely used language for Internet searchingInternet searching (Internet World Stats, Dec 31, 2009) (Internet World Stats, Dec 31, 2009)

BackgroundBackground

First Edition First Edition May 2007May 2007 Online onlyOnline only http://agclass.nal.usda.gov/agt_es.shtmlhttp://agclass.nal.usda.gov/agt_es.shtml

73,60073,600 total terms total terms• 35% lead-in, 65% preferred35% lead-in, 65% preferred

Separate Separate English andEnglish and Spanish interfacesSpanish interfaces Original translators in Original translators in ChileChile, with support , with support

from AgNIC and ADEC (American Distance from AgNIC and ADEC (American Distance Education Consortium)Education Consortium)

Annually updatedAnnually updated in January with English in January with English versionversion

ObjectivesObjectives

Bilingual controlled vocabulary in Bilingual controlled vocabulary in agriculture that:agriculture that:• encompasses encompasses Latin American SpanishLatin American Spanish • provides provides definitionsdefinitions of technical terms in of technical terms in

both Spanish and Englishboth Spanish and English• includes includes agriculturally and economically agriculturally and economically

importantimportant crops, products, practices, crops, products, practices, pests, diseases, etc. of the Americaspests, diseases, etc. of the Americas

ChallengesChallenges

13 dialects of Spanish in Latin America…13 dialects of Spanish in Latin America…

avocado

aguacate

palta

rambutan

mamón chino

achotillo

rambután

Ager, S. n.d. Latin American Spanish or Spanish for Latin America. Omniglot.

Expand ParticipationExpand Participation

1010thth Annual Annual SIDALC meetingSIDALC meeting Sept 2009 at Turrialba, CR, briefed Sept 2009 at Turrialba, CR, briefed

IICA members on project and called IICA members on project and called for participation.for participation.

Paper written for IICA Paper written for IICA to explain the to explain the need for a Spanish thesaurus (2009)need for a Spanish thesaurus (2009)

http://webiica.iica.ac.cr/bibliotecas/RepIICA/B1621i/B1621i.pdf

Expand Participation : Expand Participation : WorkshopWorkshop

Workshop to be held May 26-27, 2010, Workshop to be held May 26-27, 2010, at Orton Memorial Library, CRat Orton Memorial Library, CR• To establish working relationship with To establish working relationship with

partners from partners from Chile, Peru and MexicoChile, Peru and Mexico • To engage scientists from To engage scientists from CATIECATIE• To train partners on To train partners on thesaurus thesaurus

maintenance maintenance • To motivate partners to contribute To motivate partners to contribute

local terminologylocal terminology to Tesauro Agrícola to Tesauro Agrícola

Collaborative tool: WIKICollaborative tool: WIKI

Features of Google SitesFeatures of Google Sites

replaced for 2011replaced for 2011• Text and Tables Text and Tables word processingword processing easier easier• Google Google searchsearch• Ease of Ease of navigation taxonomynavigation taxonomy creation creation• DesignDesign templates for fast upstart templates for fast upstart• SpanishSpanish interface interface

Members SectionMembers Section

A place on the WIKI to share contact information, post a picture, and tell others about your work and role in the project.

WIKI SectionsWIKI Sections

Reference SectionReference Section – links or – links or documents uploadeddocuments uploaded

ProposalsProposals – each member has place – each member has place to “push” work to NAL and place for to “push” work to NAL and place for NAL tracking the status of proposalsNAL tracking the status of proposals

TranslationsTranslations – space for listing terms, – space for listing terms, definitions needing translationdefinitions needing translation

ReviewReview of terms of terms

Review Section:Review Section:““Pushing” forward parts of the Pushing” forward parts of the

thesaurus which need reviewthesaurus which need review

QuestionsQuestions

Lori.Finch@ars.usda.gov

Tesauro Agrícola…Tesauro Agrícola…

… ….collaboratively building a terminology .collaboratively building a terminology tool for the Americastool for the Americas