[Localization] Beginners troubles

[Sayamindu Dasgupta]

Hi Satyanarayana,

On Jan 18, 2008 4:01 AM, Satyanarayana Murthy Saladi <saladism at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have been working on the link (sugar.po ) Sayamindu sent me. I am still
> waiting for Telugu to be opened up in Pootle.
>
> In the mean time here are my 4 questions.
>
>
>
> 1) HOW TO FIND CONTEXT or GET SCREEN SHOTS
>
>
>  #: ../shell/controlpanel/control.py:307
>  msgid "off"
>  msgstr "లేదు "
>  #: ../shell/controlpanel/control.py:309
>  msgid "on"
>  msgstr "ఉ౦ది "
>
>  The words depend on if it is mentioning about the state of radio signal or
> asking user to switch on or off the radio.
>

Ok - this one is difficult, since this is a command line application
atm (sugar control panel). Here, the context is on as in (radio
on/off) (state).

>
> #: ../shell/intro/intro.py:163
> msgid "Next"
> msgstr ""
>
> "Next" as in "next friend" or as in "next screen", as the words are slightly
> different in Telugu.
>

Next screen would be my guestimate. (This is probably the first screen
that comes up when you start the XO for the first time, ie the new
user registration screen).


> 2) WHAT FREEDOMS ARE ALLOWED
>
> #: ../shell/view/BuddyMenu.py:84
> msgid "Remove friend"
> msgstr ""
>
> "friend" is genderless and there are no equivalent genderless words in
> Telugu
> So it will be easier in my native tongue to say equivalent of "remove
> friendship" to make it uncomplicated.
> Is such freedom allowed.
>

Yes.

>
> #: ../shell/hardware/keydialog.py:169
> msgid "Authentication Type:"
> msgstr ""
>
> I can find literal translation but the word will not be in common usage
> especilly in the target age group. So can I just use the same word but with
> Telugu script. My  guess work on Bengali translation of same po file
> suggests people already do that.
>

Yes. In fact, in India, it makes more sense, IMHO, since people
(except for those from the remotest parts) are guaranteed to have some
kind of exposure to English.

> Are there any guidelines as to to how to translate for children. I am
> prepared to help with this if needed as I am your typical user rather than
> developer.
>

No - but it would be great if people start collating their thoughts
and opinions on the wiki :-).  Feel free to start a page.

> 3) SEARCHING MAILING LIST
>
> Is there a facility to search mailing list to see if similar questions have
> been answered before? It is easy now to just read all posts in archives, but
> might be difficult when it is bigger. I think it is already possible from
> wiki page but the mailing list home page does not say that.
>

Errm - I don't think there's any straightforward method here. However,
you can use google to search the domain lists.laptop.org (use the
advanced search feature)

>
> 4) REPEATING WORDS. Is that normal or needed.
>
> #: ../lib/sugar/graphics/alert.py:168
> msgid "Ok"
> msgstr " "
>
>  #: ../lib/sugar/graphics/alert.py:244
> msgid "OK"
> msgstr ""
>

This looks like a bug - Ok should be consistent (OK or Ok). I'll file
a ticket for this.

Regarding context, when I used to do translations, I usually tried to
figure it out by actually using the UI (in it's English form), an then
by beta testing the translating UI.

Cheers,
Sayamindu

-- 
Sayamindu Dasgupta
[http://sayamindu.randomink.org/ramblings]