Point of view and narrative in Wikipedia translation

Abstract Wikipedia prides itself on its ability to provide nuanced and largely neutral information, while as part of its participatory editing process translation is sometimes used to introduce content that can impact point of view. Because of the clear overlap between narrative and point of view, this article proposes an initial framework based on narrative theory — supplemented by Bakhtin’s notion of polyphony — to theorise point of view in Wikipedia and beyond. The article assembles a list of methods and tools for synchronic and diachronic analysis and exemplifies how different analyses might proceed. In this way, the article aims to problematise the concept of point of view, to contribute to the significant impact that translation studies has had on narrative theory and to advance research into the specifics of Wikipedia translation. Along the way, the English edition’s claimed neutral status is called into question as it also displays evidence of manipulation.