1. A method for managing multi-lingual knowledge bases in a database system, comprising: receiving, by a host system, a request for a language translation to one or more languages of an article available in a first language in a knowledge base, the request being initiated through a user interface having at least one input area; determining that the article is not available in the knowledge base in the requested one or more languages; determining, based at least in part on both a predicted return on investment (ROI) associated with translating the article and a frequency of the article being referenced by other articles within a designated time period, that a translation request should be sent; sending, from the host system, responsive to determining that the translation request should be sent, the translation request; receiving, by the host system, one or more language translations of the article from a source other than the knowledge base; storing the one or more language translations in the knowledge base; and publishing the translations using a process workflow to define a versioned life cycle for the one or more language translations as the one or more language translations move between draft, online and archived states, to provide the one or more language translations to users of the knowledge base.