Re: [nvda-translations] Use of Multi Meaningful words: A headache to translator!
- From: Him Prasad Gautam <drishtibachak@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: nvda-translations@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 08:50:10 +0545
Hi again,
We all know that encounter of constrains in translation is natural.
But we have to look the root cause of the problem.
I think that basically such problem arise due to two reasons.
1. Due to different rule of two languages like Rui pointed out on
gender issue or use of a word with same form in Noun and Verb like
save, print, report etc. ( Language rule: the root cause of problem!)
2. Use of a particular word with multi or dual meanings in many places
as a message like 'none' , 'on' or 'off' etc. though there exists
suitable alternate word (the writer i.e. man: The root cause of the
problem!). My immediate concern is for the second category. I think
that for the first case, it should be addressed differently. For the
second case, it is easy if the code developer keep few things in mind
before writing a word/phrase inside the double quotation marks as
message for the user. Take an example:
a) The word 'none' in the selection list of voices be written as 'no choice'
b) Capslock/Scroll/Numpad key be said 'locked/unlocked' instead of 'on/off'
In gist; the second category problem be completely eliminated if
avoidance of repeated message text adopted and specific suitable words
are used.
Him p. Gautam
On 9/8/12, Mesar Hameed <mesar.hameed@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> You are right, and we have a ticket for this work here:
> http://www.nvda-project.org/ticket/1524
>
> @jamie, the translation workflow already uses msgfmt msgmerge, and not the
> po files.
> Might you have some time to look at the needed code changes?
> Sorry I am currently snowed under.
>
> Thanks,
> Mesar
> On Sat 08/09/12,18:57, Him Prasad Gautam wrote:
>> Dear All,
>> Are you also getting the same nature of problem as below?
>> Either yes or no, let you give your opinion….
>>
>> As a translator, I am questioned by some ne locale users regarding the
>> inappropriateness translation of some 'multi meaningful English word'
>> messages like 'on' or 'off'. As we all know that these words are used
>> in many but entirely different situational cases e.g.
>> Caps/Scroll/Numlock key: on/off, AC line: on/off, Mouse tracking:
>> on/off and many things can be said by the same word of 'on/off'. It
>> is appropriate for English but the same does not apply to other
>> language. In Nepali, there exists no a single word which may be used
>> to express the situation of a key on a keyboard and state of the
>> supply of the electricity! Just to address different conditional
>> states of different messages, like msgid "on" or msgid "off" are a
>> great headache and seriously challenge the quality of the translator.
>> What to do if a common word fit for all such messages does not exits
>> in own language? Instead if the developer use the word something
>> like 'locked/unlocked' for keys of a keyboard,
>> 'connected/Disconnected' for power supply, 'yes/no' for mouse tracking
>> and so on; there would no problem of looking an appropriate words for
>> translators!
>>
>> I request James and Mesar to pay an attention in this issue and make a
>> strict policy of using specific word for message instead of using a
>> common English word (like on/off) unless an alternate specific
>> English vocabulary exists. Definitely, this concept increases the list
>> of messages to be translated but additional work for just few more
>> words is not that much burden. Present list of 1129 message may be
>> 1200, so what? it will be easily translated but in a flexible
>> environment for choosing an appropriate words! This will increase the
>> quality of translation.
>>
>>
>> Him Prasad Gautam
>> Kathmandu, Nepal
>
>
--
Him Prasad Gautam
Kathmandu, Nepal
Other related posts:
