[PD] What about multilingual Pd ?

[Hans-Christoph Steiner]

On Dec 12, 2005, at 10:05 AM, Marc Lavallée wrote:

> Le 12 Décembre 2005 03:52, Andre Schmidt a écrit :
>> if we make the gui (with the _VERY_ simple english) to multilangual,
>> wouldnt we need to translate the objects too ?
>
> No. The effort is about software localization, not translation of a
> programming language.
>
> Translating the objects would require PD to support dialects, like
> AppleScript did. It would be impractical, because PD's language is
> graphical and not using a natural language metaphor.
>
> Since Apple is based in the U.S. (THE unilinguistic power), I was not
> surprised when it dropped support for dialects in AppleScript,  
> although it
> was working perfectly (I used it for a while). The reason invoked was  
> that
> most developers were not using this feature, but it doesn't mean it  
> was a
> completely bad idea...

Maybe the stereotype of the U.S. is unilinguistic, but I know that the  
cash machine prompts me to choose between 6 languages, and the ballot  
is available in 14 languages, and in typical day, I hear and see  
english, spanish, chinese, and arabic, among other languages.  Contrary  
to popular belief, English is not the "official" language everywhere in  
this country.  And the law in a number of states requires that people  
be given government info in their language, as well as saying that  
contracts that are not in a shared language of the involved parties are  
not valid.

Just my two bits.

.hc

> Menu items like "File", "New", "Open", and GUI objects like "messages",
> "number", "symbol" and "comment" are easy to translate. Non-gui objects
> must be named, and most have distinct names or are diminutives, so it  
> would
> be a bad idea to translate them. Even in English, most object names  
> must be
> decoded, like "osc~"; those names are not in English, they are in the  
> PD
> dialect.
>
>> and i think multilangual gives more problems to ALL, than the user
>> learning a little simple english...
>
> Localization is common and considered a *good* thing.
>
> ALL can also learn or remember a little bit of their own language to  
> use
> computers; it's part of the solution to keep and enhance our local
> cultures. Since I'm French speaking, I prefer "commentaire" to  
> "comment",
> "symbole" to "symbol", "nombre" to "number", "bascule" to "toggle"...
>
> Using "little simple english" with technology is not enough to deal  
> with
> complex concepts, and it is an insult to our cultural intelligences.
> English is a rich language, but it's not mine...
>
>> so leave the gui (and objects) in english and just make multilanguage
>> help files, tutorials etc...
>
> PD can be localized, like any other software. It's not a problem, and  
> it's
> the first step to multilingual documentation.
>
>> but then again, as long as theres english version, i dont really care  
>> :)
>
> PD will alway support its "lingua franca", don't worry.
>
>> ps. my mother language is finnish, and i was unable to use a finnish
>> language os...
>
> That's sad.
> I visited Finland, and most people were using their computers in  
> Finnish.
> Welcome to the 21th century.
>
> I read the other comments about this sensible subject; of course, some  
> would
> prefer to have support for some new "super-duper" features, and  
> consider
> this language issue irrelevent. The good news is that PD is a free  
> software
> and therefore open to people that would like to use it in their own
> language.
>
> Mathieu, we want DesireData!
> (and a better name...)
> --
> Marc
>
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            "The arc of history bends towards justice."
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