April Contributor of the Month: Soledad Magnone
This month, we're thrilled to spotlight Soledad Magnone, a dedicated translator and reviewer who has been an invaluable asset to Localization Lab for the past four years.
Sole's collaborative nature and attention to detail have greatly enhanced projects like Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT), Securing Organizations with Automated Policymaking (SOAP), Tactical, and Tella. Her deep understanding of the Spanish language and culture ensures that our translations effectively reach and resonate with Spanish-speaking communities worldwide. Beyond her work in translation, Sole has also contributed to internet freedom projects as an interpreter.
We're immensely grateful for Sole's commitment to bridging language barriers and making information accessible to everyone. We're excited to learn more about her experiences and insights in the following interview.
¡Gracias, Sole, for your vital role in building a more inclusive and accessible digital world!
Let's dive into a conversation with Sole to learn more about her journey, motivations, and the impact she's made at Localization Lab!
LL: What made you decide to be a volunteer/ contributor for Localization Lab? When did you join the community?
SM: I joined Localization Lab during the pandemic, translating some guidelines and videos for the Advocacy Assembly. Had just returned to Uruguay after completing a couple of Masters degrees in Europe about the intersections between digital technologies, human rights, and education. There were no opportunities for digital rights for projects on digital education or youth. Then translations were an opportunity to contribute to the community and learn about its advances and gaps in educational resources and activities to build something upon it.
LL: Where are you from? How would you describe the state of internet freedom or digital rights in your context or country?
SM: I am from Uruguay but live in Finland. Uruguay has progressed significantly in terms of digital access, digital education, and digital policies. For instance, the government has been providing laptops and internet to low-income families since 2007. However, there is a low enforcement of digital rights policies due to a lack of awareness and resources. I’ve summarised an article I wrote on a particular case of children’s digital rights in Uruguay for the JAAKLAC’s blog, an initiative that I direct.
Finland has a similar situation, with a greater digital transformation process across every dimension of society. Furthermore, there is stronger infrastructure around issues of digital privacy and safety. Nevertheless, there is a broad lack of research and accountability on how the digital ecosystem is used to surveil, punish, and control minority groups, particularly in the case of diasporans, migrants, refugees, international students, etc.
In both countries, there is a huge deficit in digital education that is oriented toward human rights and with a focus on nurturing participatory democracies. Predominant approaches have focused on teaching with the aid of digital technologies and developing skills for the labor market.
LL: Could you describe your experience as a translator-contributor so far? Do you have a favorite project and why?
SM: All projects have been great. It’s a way to meet new people from around the world with common passions and visions for a better future. Every project has presented different ways of connecting with the Localization Lab coordinators, and, engaging with the tech developers, and fellow translators/reviewers. I look forward to seeing how these projects evolve.
LL: What do you think are the gaps in language accessibility of tech tools? Is there anything we can do to improve this?
SM: Language accessibility entails so many different issues. It has been interesting to learn the varying perspectives on what it means to build a digital world that is language-inclusive from the Lingua Café discussions. This is beyond a traditional understanding of language, including nuances that can be mediated by issues such as gender, class, age, accents, disciplines, and geographies. The most sustainable pathway is to engage with diverse communities, especially the most affected, and to recognize these collaborations within formal spaces in the development process.
LL: If asked, how would you explain what localization is to a 6-year-old?
SM: I would say that it is about explaining something but using your own words.
LL: Could you tell us some interesting facts about your mother tongue?
SM: Spanish, as most people know, is technically Castilian. Spain has different languages, such as Catalan, Basque and Galician. Once someone asked if in Uruguay we spoke Mexican. I thought that was fun and that could be applied too! I’ve seen some websites with the Mexican flag for the use of the Spanish language instead of the Spaniard one. Could be a good approach to “decolonize” Latin America, although reinforcing the dominance of Mexico in the region.
LL: Could you share something interesting about Spanish speakers that only Spanish speakers would know?
SM: Probably understanding the Spanish (Castilian) language variations across countries and regions, and what it can tell about those cultures. Some interesting things include;
In Latin America, the more dominant Italian accent is found in people hailing from Argentina’s capital city;
The region’s feminist groups pushing for a gender-inclusive language and contesting the Royal Spanish Academy's dominance;
The more formal way of speaking in some countries from the Caribbean;
The wealth of Indigenous languages spoken within a single country, such as Colombia;
The particular slang from Mexico and Chile; or the mix with Portuguese (Portuñol) across Brazil’s extensive border with 10 countries.
LL: Tell us something fun about yourself that you’d like to share with our community.
SM: I am always planning projects and collaborating with organizations from around the world. Always connecting and encouraging people, either to study, start some new adventure, meet someone new, or do something differently. I’m passionate about my work, talking about it, and encouraging more people to join the quest for a better world.
LL: If we would want to invite more Spanish speakers from your language group, what would you tell them about Localization Lab?
SM: I would tell them they are joining a community of amazing people from around the world who are dedicated to building better digital technologies together. As we said at the Localization Lab Summit in 2021, “Localization is more than translations”. Localization Lab is a fantastic opportunity to learn, contribute to these tools, and make friends in the process. Additionally, I would recommend Localization Lab to engage particularly with universities, youth civil society organizations, and schools!
If you are part of the Localization Lab community and would like to nominate a fellow contributor to be a Contributor of the Month, please reach out to us at chido@localizationlab.org and dianne@localizationlab.org. We are also in our Community Mattermost channel at @chido and @dianne.