July Contributor of the Month: Luana

This month, we're shining the spotlight on Luana, whose exceptional dedication to breaking down language barriers has made a tremendous impact on internet freedom. With numerous translations for projects like Censorship NO! (CENO), Check, Deflect, OONI, and Tella, Luana has been instrumental in making vital tools accessible to Portuguese-speaking users around the globe since 2019.

Join us as we sit down with Luana to discuss her motivations, experiences, and the importance of localization in promoting a truly open internet.

1. What made you decide to be a volunteer/ contributor for Localization Lab? When did you join the community?

I joined the community around 2019 helping to translate Signal to Portuguese (Brazil). I was already passionate about cybersecurity, digital human rights, and Free/ Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS), and joining Localization Lab was my way of contributing to making such tools accessible to Portuguese-speaking people and being active in my advocacy.

2. Where are you from? How would you describe the state of internet freedom or digital rights in your context or country?

I’m from Brazil and currently, there are no signs of censorship or content blocking from the government part. In that manner, you are free to use the internet the way it pleases you. However, Brazil has struggled with "fake news" and disinformation for quite some time now and has had specific cases of ordering the suspension of messaging apps because they’ve refused to cooperate with authorities.

3. Could you describe your experience as a translator-contributor so far? Do you have a favorite project and why?

It’s always pleasing to know that there is a new project coming up. I have the chance to learn about a new tool, search for technical specifications, and discuss with my peers the best way of communicating it to the broader audience. I have a deep appreciation for the Signal project because it was, and still is, a tool that I used daily - so that made me feel that I was carrying an important task. I also enjoyed translating the Tella app a lot, because I’ve been following its development, and watching its Demonstrations and it was cool to be able to be a part of it besides Tella being an amazing and important tool for safe documentation.

4. What do you think are the gaps in language accessibility of tech tools? Is there anything we can do to improve this?

I think that technical jargon is usually quite hard to translate if and when there is a translation at all. In cases where there is no translation, it can be a challenge to find a way of making the tool accessible and easy to grasp while taking into consideration character limitations from design.

5. If asked, how would you explain what localization is to a 6-year-old?

That is a great question. I would say that localization is taking a game that you love and that feels that it was made for you, and adapting a little bit so other people can feel that it was made just for them. Let’s say that this game was made to be played in the snow, we might adapt it to be played in the sand for people who live in places without snow. So no matter where people live or what language they speak, they can access and have fun with the same game.

6. Could you tell us some interesting facts about your mother tongue? 

Ok, I had to research this one to get the correct numbers. Of all 10 countries in the world that have Portuguese as their official language, none border one another. But I also wanted to acknowledge that within the population of Brazil, there are more than 238 languages that are spoken, of which approximately 217 are indigenous.

7. Could you share something interesting about Portuguese speakers that only Portuguese speakers would know?

The grammar! There are so many layers of Portuguese grammar that some of them we don’t even dare to go there.

8. Tell us something fun about yourself that you’d like to share with our community.

I’ve just finished reading Kindred by Octavia Butler, so I can say that I love a well-crafted story - read, listened to, watched, or told. I take it very personally sometimes, so deeply that I feel that this particular story and its characters are a part of my daily life. And each chapter I read is a new magical part of this character’s story that I unfold.

9. If we want to invite more Portuguese (Brazil) speakers from your language group, what would you tell them about Localization Lab?

I would say that if you want to learn and discuss accessibility, empathy, and inclusiveness in a general sense, but also applied to digital security tools - Localization Lab is your go-to place. It's also a space where you will exercise collaboration and communication, creating bonds that go beyond any physical borders.