Terminology Across Borders : A Partnership to Build a Bilingual Tool for the Americas Lori J. Finch, Thesaurus Coordinator National Agricultural Library, ARS, USDA at USAIN, Purdue University May 11, 2010

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 AgricultureInter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture 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? IICA libraries used local terminology in order to enhance access IICA libraries used local terminology in order to enhance access A multilingual thesaurus that satisfied Latin American terminology and was regularly maintained did not exist A multilingual thesaurus that satisfied Latin American terminology and was regularly maintained did not exist

Spanish Language Statistics Second most widely used language in the world, 328 million (Ethnologue, 2009) Second most widely used language in the world, 328 million (Ethnologue, 2009) Second most widely spoken language in the U.S. Second most widely spoken language in the U.S. (U.S. Census, 2000; Modern Language Association, 2005) (U.S. Census, 2000; Modern Language Association, 2005) Most rapidly growing language in U.S. agricultural sector Most rapidly growing language in U.S. agricultural sector (USDA, NASS, Census of Agriculture, 2007) (USDA, NASS, Census of Agriculture, 2007) Third most widely used language for Internet searching (Internet World Stats, Dec 31, 2009) Third most widely used language for Internet searching (Internet World Stats, Dec 31, 2009)

Background First Edition May 2007 First Edition May 2007 Online only Online only 73,600 total terms 73,600 total terms 35% lead-in, 65% preferred35% lead-in, 65% preferred Separate English and Spanish interfaces Separate English and Spanish interfaces Original translators in Chile, with support from AgNIC and ADEC (American Distance Education Consortium) Original translators in Chile, with support from AgNIC and ADEC (American Distance Education Consortium) Annually updated in January with English version Annually updated in January with English version

Objectives Bilingual controlled vocabulary in agriculture that: encompasses Latin American Spanishencompasses Latin American Spanish provides definitions of technical terms in both Spanish and Englishprovides definitions of technical terms in both Spanish and English includes agriculturally and economically important crops, products, practices, pests, diseases, etc. of the Americasincludes agriculturally and economically important crops, products, practices, pests, diseases, etc. of the Americas

Challenges 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 Participation 10 th Annual SIDALC meeting 10 th Annual SIDALC meeting Sept 2009 at Turrialba, CR, briefed IICA members on project and called for participation. Sept 2009 at Turrialba, CR, briefed IICA members on project and called for participation. Paper written for IICA to explain the need for a Spanish thesaurus (2009) Paper written for IICA to explain the need for a Spanish thesaurus (2009)

Expand Participation : Workshop Workshop to be held May 26-27, 2010, at Orton Memorial Library, CR To establish working relationship with partners from Chile, Peru and MexicoTo establish working relationship with partners from Chile, Peru and Mexico To engage scientists from CATIETo engage scientists from CATIE To train partners on thesaurus maintenanceTo train partners on thesaurus maintenance To motivate partners to contributeTo motivate partners to contribute local terminology to Tesauro Agrícola local terminology to Tesauro Agrícola

Collaborative tool: WIKI

Features of Google Sites replaced for 2011 replaced for 2011 Text and Tables word processing easierText and Tables word processing easier Google searchGoogle search Ease of navigation taxonomy creationEase of navigation taxonomy creation Design templates for fast upstartDesign templates for fast upstart Spanish interfaceSpanish interface

Members 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 Sections Reference Section – links or documents uploaded Reference Section – links or documents uploaded Proposals – each member has place to “push” work to NAL and place for NAL tracking the status of proposals Proposals – each member has place to “push” work to NAL and place for NAL tracking the status of proposals Translations – space for listing terms, definitions needing translation Translations – space for listing terms, definitions needing translation Review of terms Review of terms

Review Section: “Pushing” forward parts of the thesaurus which need review

Questions Tesauro Agrícola… ….collaboratively building a terminology tool for the Americas ….collaboratively building a terminology tool for the Americas