User talk:Chxeese
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Constitution of Syria (1930)[edit]
Hello. The Constitution of Syria (1930) is the 1930 English edition of the Constitution and in that edition it was translated as "Mohammedanism", see [1]. We may disagree with that translation but we cannot change history. If we changed it, it would not be the 1930 edition anymore. If you know of any better editions which are also in the public domain, you can transcribe them here too. --Jan Kameníček (talk) 17:01, 6 May 2021 (UTC)
- The organial constitution was written in both Arabic and French (because Syria was under the control of France after WWI), therefore it should be translated (or improved) from either the Arabic or French version rather than from UN archives. The Arabic version states, "سورية جمهورية نيابية دين رئيسها الإسلام وعاصمتها مدينة دمشق." Additionally, the French version states, "La Syrie est une république parlementaire. La religion du Président est l’Islam. La capitale est la ville de Damas." You can translate both of these and it will say the religion is Islam not Mohammedanism. --Chxeese (talk) 17:30, 6 May 2021 (UTC)
- Edit: Arabic Version: [2] Archive: [3] French Version: [4] Archive [5] --Chxeese (talk) 17:45, 6 May 2021 (UTC)
- Additionally there versions on the French and Arabic versions are available on Wikisource --Chxeese (talk) 17:52, 6 May 2021 (UTC)
- I will explain it in more detail: What English Wikisource does is hosting original English language historical documents, not correcting them, and the contents of French or Arabic versions are not relevant for us. The 1930 edition used the word "Mohammedanism" instead of "Islam". The reason can be a bad translation, but it can also be that in 1930 these words were considered synonyms in English language (unlike now). It is not our task to investigate the reasons, we simply transcribe the documents as they are. Changing the original translated wording would mean falsifying the original translated document. It can be useful for some people to see that a document published by the UN in 1930 used the word "Mohammedanism" in the sense of "Islam", which we do not do nowadays. If you find a different edition which translates it differently and if the other edition is also in the public domain, we can host it too. --Jan Kameníček (talk) 09:31, 7 May 2021 (UTC)
- The Syrian Constitution (of 1930) was (most likely) never written in English. At the time it was written Syria was a under a French Mandate because of the Sykes–Picot Agreement. Therefore it was probably never written in English, only translated. Additionally, the main language in Syria is Arabic so it would make since. Also also, there is nothing in Wikisource that says the organial document needs to be in the language that is being hosted. Therefore it is fine to translate it from either the French or Arabic versions. --Chxeese (talk) 19:55, 7 May 2021 (UTC)
- It does not matter that it was never written in English. It was translated into English and we can host these translations. You cannot change the published translations and I have already explained it clearly enough. You are not the author of the 1930 translation, so do not falsify the translator’s work, no matter whether it was good or bad. We do not make the published texts (including published translations) better, we just host them here as they are.
- As for the language, WS:WWI says that The English Wikisource only collects texts written in the English language. Texts in other languages should be placed in the appropriate language subdomain. There is the 1930 translation of the Syrian Constitution which is written in English and so this text can be hosted here. The text of the constitution written in Arabic can be hosted in Arabic Wikisource and the text of the constitution in French can be hosted in French Wikisource.
- I have protected the page so that only admins can edit it. We welcome all contributors willing to help, but only if they try to learn local English Wikisource rules. There are plenty of texts waiting to be added here and so every help is appreciated if it is done in accordance with our local rules and customs. Just listen to what more experienced contributors tell you, learn how things are being done here, do not try to edit war, and everything will be OK. --Jan Kameníček (talk) 20:58, 7 May 2021 (UTC)
- This makes for sense to me now and I understand your point. I will not try and edit revert the edit the document (expect if it is something like fixing spacing). I understand now how this rules work. Sorry if I was being a bit too mean on this. --Chxeese (talk) 21:45, 7 May 2021 (UTC)
- The Syrian Constitution (of 1930) was (most likely) never written in English. At the time it was written Syria was a under a French Mandate because of the Sykes–Picot Agreement. Therefore it was probably never written in English, only translated. Additionally, the main language in Syria is Arabic so it would make since. Also also, there is nothing in Wikisource that says the organial document needs to be in the language that is being hosted. Therefore it is fine to translate it from either the French or Arabic versions. --Chxeese (talk) 19:55, 7 May 2021 (UTC)
- I will explain it in more detail: What English Wikisource does is hosting original English language historical documents, not correcting them, and the contents of French or Arabic versions are not relevant for us. The 1930 edition used the word "Mohammedanism" instead of "Islam". The reason can be a bad translation, but it can also be that in 1930 these words were considered synonyms in English language (unlike now). It is not our task to investigate the reasons, we simply transcribe the documents as they are. Changing the original translated wording would mean falsifying the original translated document. It can be useful for some people to see that a document published by the UN in 1930 used the word "Mohammedanism" in the sense of "Islam", which we do not do nowadays. If you find a different edition which translates it differently and if the other edition is also in the public domain, we can host it too. --Jan Kameníček (talk) 09:31, 7 May 2021 (UTC)