Translation of OA Literature and Materials

Translation Procedure and Guidelines

OA encourages literature translations to help carry our message around the world. OA grows in countries where compulsive eaters can read program literature in their own language.

If your group or service body (intergroup/service board) is interested in translating OA literature read the Guidelines for Translation of OA Literature and Materials, or view the Translations Basic Workshop. These resources describe the translation process, explain OA’s legal requirements, and offer helpful suggestions. Use the OA Glossary to improve the speed and consistency of your translations.

We have a two-step licensing process for translation approval:

License 1 gives permission to translate a particular piece of OA literature and to circulate the translation for the purpose of validating its accuracy.

License 2 gives permission to print and distribute the approved translation, and is also used to assign rights to the translated work when your OA group or service body is distributing existing translations that don’t have license agreements.

Funding Assistance for Translations

Groups and service bodies may now apply for financial assistance for translating OA literature. (In the absence of a registered OA group or service body, a small group of interested members can begin the translation process while working toward registering as a service body.)

Complete the Translation Assistance Fund Application and email or mail it to the World Service Office. Applications for translation funds received by the WSO by the last day of each month will be considered the following month.

Literature Titles
Automatically translated literature titles appearing on this page are for reference only and may not exactly match the official titles approved by OA, Inc. and A.A. World Services, Inc.

Translation Permission
All registered OA groups and service bodies have permission to translate and reprint any OA document or text currently on the OA website. Permission includes the right to distribute automatically translated material and the right to correct errors in automatic translations. Translation corrections should be as close as possible to the meaning of the original English text, with nothing added or omitted. Translated materials must include this statement in the language of the translation: This is a translation of OA-approved literature. © Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.

To translate OA documents with significant graphic design, see Free Licensed Images, Translation, and Graphic Design Platform for Intergroups and Service Boards Registered as Nonprofits/Charities.

To obtain OA-approved literature in your language, contact your service body or see the Digital Files in Translation list and Guidelines for Translation of OA literature.

Volunteer to improve translations on staging-frontendrebuild.oa.org. Apply here!