Translation
Plinth includes AI-powered translation to help you work with applications submitted in different languages. This makes your funding accessible to diverse communities and helps you understand applications without manual translation.
Why Translation Matters
Accessibility — Applicants can complete forms in their preferred language
Reach — Fund organisations serving non-English-speaking communities
Understanding — Review applications without language barriers
Efficiency — Instant AI translation saves time and cost
Two Types of Translation
1. Form Translation (For Applicants)
Applicants can view your application form in their preferred language.
How it works:
Applicant opens your application form
They select their preferred language from the dropdown
Question text, descriptions, and options are translated
They complete the form in their chosen language
What gets translated:
Question titles
Question descriptions and help text
Multiple choice options
"Other" option text
What doesn't get translated:
Applicant's own answers (they write in their language)
Uploaded documents
2. Answer Translation (For Reviewers)
When reviewing applications submitted in other languages, you can translate answers to English.
How it works:
Open an application for review
Select your target language from the dropdown
Click Translate on individual text answers
Translated text appears highlighted below the original
Review both original and translation
Supported Languages
Plinth supports over 100 languages, including:
European — French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, and more
Asian — Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Vietnamese
Middle Eastern — Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, Turkish
African — Swahili, Amharic, and others
Note: British Sign Language is available as a language option for tracking purposes, but sign languages cannot be translated by AI text translation. If an applicant uses BSL, you'll need to arrange alternative communication methods.
Setting Application Language
When reviewing an application, you can record what language it was submitted in:
Open the application
Go to Grant Details
Click Edit
Select the Language from the dropdown
Save
This helps you:
Track which applications need translation review
Filter applications by language
Automatically prompt for translation when viewing
How AI Translation Works
Plinth uses Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model for translation. This provides:
High quality — Modern AI produces natural, accurate translations
Fast — Translations appear in seconds
Context-aware — AI understands grant application context
Streaming — See translation appear in real-time
Translation Quality
AI translation is excellent for understanding content but may not be perfect for:
Technical or specialist terminology
Culturally specific references
Idiomatic expressions
For critical decisions, consider having a human translator review important sections.
Best Practices
For Form Design
Use clear, simple language — Simple questions translate better
Avoid idioms — "Ballpark figure" doesn't translate well; "approximate amount" does
Be specific — Vague questions can be misinterpreted across languages
For Reviewing Translated Applications
Read both versions — Check the original alongside the translation
Look for awkward phrasing — This might indicate translation issues
Ask for clarification — If something doesn't make sense, contact the applicant
Consider cultural context — Some concepts don't translate directly
For Applicants
Let applicants know in your guidance:
What languages are supported
That they can complete forms in their preferred language
That AI translation will be used for review
That they should write clearly for best translation results
Privacy and Data
Translations are processed in real-time
Translated content is not permanently stored separately
Translation requests are made securely through the platform
Your applicant data is not used to train AI models
Frequently Asked Questions
Do applicants need to select a language?
Applicants can choose to view the form in a different language, but it's optional. They can complete it in English if they prefer.
Can I translate entire applications at once?
Currently, translation is done per-field. Click Translate on each answer you need to understand. This gives you control over what gets translated.
Is there a cost for translation?
Translation is included in your Plinth subscription. There's no per-translation charge.
What if the translation seems wrong?
AI translation is generally accurate but not perfect. If something seems off, contact the applicant for clarification or consult a human translator for critical decisions.
Can I export translated applications?
Exports include the original language content. Translations are generated on-demand when viewing in the platform.
Does translation work for documents?
Currently, translation works for form answers only. Uploaded documents (PDFs, etc.) are not automatically translated.