Should questions asking for the availability of a translation be on-topic?

Question

Certain shopping questions might not be about shopping at all.

For instance, questions asking whether a particular work has ever been translated to a particular language.

One example is this question on Mythology SE. One other example is hypothetical question asking about the Witcher series being translated to English (hint: they're not).

Questions like this can benefit a large audience, and fit the Q&A format. We also should embrace non-Googlers.

Answer 1

I don't see anything wrong with a question asking whether a particular work has ever been translated to a particular language.

First off, such questions are likely to be of practical use. Like identification questions and reading-order questions, they might actually help someone with a real problem, as well as just satisfying idle curiosity. To take your example, I'm interested in the Witcher series but am not fluent in Polish, so whether it's been translated into English is a fairly important question for me.

As b_jonas notes in comments, these questions have lasting value: if there is an existing translation, it won't suddenly disappear, and if there isn't, that answer will stand until someone creates one (which isn't likely to happen overnight). Stack Exchange fields questions about much more rapidly changing things than this on the various software-related sites.

They can also add to one's appreciation of a work. If a book written in French which is well-known in France has never been translated to English, there's likely to be an interesting reason for that. (I've heard of some examples of this kind of thing happening, for various reasons relating to the work itself and possibly political in nature, but I can't remember any offhand.)

Answer 2

TL;DR - Off-topic as all "shopping questions" are.

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Questions asking for translations and may meet the requirements of a good question, but if we break it down some simplicity does arise:

• Have have a practical use - OP would like to know how/where to buy something.
• Have lasting value - any visitors may want to know the same information especially if they have similar interest or live in the same region as the OP.
• Add to one's appreciation of a work - OP needs to be able to consume it to appreciate it.

Also, as seen on prior Lit.SE meta, M&TV, SFF, Academia, Arqade, Arts & Crafts, and possibly others because it does seems to be a policy of the network from the beginning, shopping questions have been deemed off-topic (although certain exceptions do apply) as they essentially become questions looking for lists or recommendations.

Now, I am not an expert of these sites meta policies (except maybe SFF), and there is at least one site dedicated to shopping, Hardware Recommendations; but I do see a trend...

I say requests for translated works would fall under shopping questions and should be off-topic as:

• answers may be too localized - websites may not be accessible or go dead, hard copies may not be available for purchase in OP's region
• high probability of drive-by questions - OP needs a certain work in certain language for something specific, needs the answer quickly (in a few hours or a day), and they do not get one (or even if they do) will not be seen again (unless they have another shopping need)
• high probability of low quality link-only answers - it is easy just drop one line and link saying "here is what you need at xyz.con"
• multiple correct answers - a work maybe be available from any number of sources, but which is one is "the best"? Sure the OP may let us know by an accepted answer and the community by up-votes, but this may just be FGITW factor.