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1 Notes on the Free Translation Project
2 *************************************
4 Free software is going international! The Free Translation Project
5 is a way to get maintainers of free software, translators, and users all
6 together, so that will gradually become able to speak many languages.
7 A few packages already provide translations for their messages.
9 If you found this `ABOUT-NLS' file inside a distribution, you may
10 assume that the distributed package does use GNU `gettext' internally,
11 itself available at your nearest GNU archive site. But you do _not_
12 need to install GNU `gettext' prior to configuring, installing or using
13 this package with messages translated.
15 Installers will find here some useful hints. These notes also
16 explain how users should proceed for getting the programs to use the
17 available translations. They tell how people wanting to contribute and
18 work at translations should contact the appropriate team.
20 When reporting bugs in the `intl/' directory or bugs which may be
21 related to internationalization, you should tell about the version of
22 `gettext' which is used. The information can be found in the
23 `intl/VERSION' file, in internationalized packages.
25 Quick configuration advice
26 ==========================
28 If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
29 should configure it using
31 ./configure --with-included-gettext
33 to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
34 package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
35 operating system where this package is being installed. So far, only
36 the `gettext' implementation in the GNU C library version 2 provides as
37 many features (such as locale alias, message inheritance, automatic
38 charset conversion or plural form handling) as the implementation here.
39 It is also not possible to offer this additional functionality on top
40 of a `catgets' implementation. Future versions of GNU `gettext' will
41 very likely convey even more functionality. So it might be a good idea
42 to change to GNU `gettext' as soon as possible.
44 So you need _not_ provide this option if you are using GNU libc 2 or
45 you have installed a recent copy of the GNU gettext package with the
46 included `libintl'.
48 INSTALL Matters
49 ===============
51 Some packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the
52 programs they contain can be made to speak your own native language.
53 Most such packages use GNU `gettext'. Other packages have their own
54 ways to internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
56 By default, this package will be installed to allow translation of
57 messages. It will automatically detect whether the system already
58 provides the GNU `gettext' functions. If not, the GNU `gettext' own
59 library will be used. This library is wholly contained within this
60 package, usually in the `intl/' subdirectory, so prior installation of
61 the GNU `gettext' package is _not_ required. Installers may use
62 special options at configuration time for changing the default
63 behaviour. The commands:
65 ./configure --with-included-gettext
66 ./configure --disable-nls
68 will respectively bypass any pre-existing `gettext' to use the
69 internationalizing routines provided within this package, or else,
70 _totally_ disable translation of messages.
72 When you already have GNU `gettext' installed on your system and run
73 configure without an option for your new package, `configure' will
74 probably detect the previously built and installed `libintl.a' file and
75 will decide to use this. This might be not what is desirable. You
76 should use the more recent version of the GNU `gettext' library. I.e.
77 if the file `intl/VERSION' shows that the library which comes with this
78 package is more recent, you should use
80 ./configure --with-included-gettext
82 to prevent auto-detection.
84 The configuration process will not test for the `catgets' function
85 and therefore it will not be used. The reason is that even an
86 emulation of `gettext' on top of `catgets' could not provide all the
87 extensions of the GNU `gettext' library.
89 Internationalized packages have usually many `po/LL.po' files, where
90 LL gives an ISO 639 two-letter code identifying the language. Unless
91 translations have been forbidden at `configure' time by using the
92 `--disable-nls' switch, all available translations are installed
93 together with the package. However, the environment variable `LINGUAS'
94 may be set, prior to configuration, to limit the installed set.
95 `LINGUAS' should then contain a space separated list of two-letter
96 codes, stating which languages are allowed.
98 Using This Package
99 ==================
101 As a user, if your language has been installed for this package, you
102 only have to set the `LANG' environment variable to the appropriate
103 `LL_CC' combination. Here `LL' is an ISO 639 two-letter language code,
104 and `CC' is an ISO 3166 two-letter country code. For example, let's
105 suppose that you speak German and live in Germany. At the shell
106 prompt, merely execute `setenv LANG de_DE' (in `csh'),
107 `export LANG; LANG=de_DE' (in `sh') or `export LANG=de_DE' (in `bash').
108 This can be done from your `.login' or `.profile' file, once and for
109 all.
111 You might think that the country code specification is redundant.
112 But in fact, some languages have dialects in different countries. For
113 example, `de_AT' is used for Austria, and `pt_BR' for Brazil. The
114 country code serves to distinguish the dialects.
116 The locale naming convention of `LL_CC', with `LL' denoting the
117 language and `CC' denoting the country, is the one use on systems based
118 on GNU libc. On other systems, some variations of this scheme are
119 used, such as `LL' or `LL_CC.ENCODING'. You can get the list of
120 locales supported by your system for your country by running the command
121 `locale -a | grep '^LL''.
123 Not all programs have translations for all languages. By default, an
124 English message is shown in place of a nonexistent translation. If you
125 understand other languages, you can set up a priority list of languages.
126 This is done through a different environment variable, called
127 `LANGUAGE'. GNU `gettext' gives preference to `LANGUAGE' over `LANG'
128 for the purpose of message handling, but you still need to have `LANG'
129 set to the primary language; this is required by other parts of the
130 system libraries. For example, some Swedish users who would rather
131 read translations in German than English for when Swedish is not
132 available, set `LANGUAGE' to `sv:de' while leaving `LANG' to `sv_SE'.
134 In the `LANGUAGE' environment variable, but not in the `LANG'
135 environment variable, `LL_CC' combinations can be abbreviated as `LL'
136 to denote the language's main dialect. For example, `de' is equivalent
137 to `de_DE' (German as spoken in Germany), and `pt' to `pt_PT'
138 (Portuguese as spoken in Portugal) in this context.
140 Translating Teams
141 =================
143 For the Free Translation Project to be a success, we need interested
144 people who like their own language and write it well, and who are also
145 able to synergize with other translators speaking the same language.
146 Each translation team has its own mailing list. The up-to-date list of
147 teams can be found at the Free Translation Project's homepage,
148 `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/', in the "National teams"
149 area.
151 If you'd like to volunteer to _work_ at translating messages, you
152 should become a member of the translating team for your own language.
153 The subscribing address is _not_ the same as the list itself, it has
154 `-request' appended. For example, speakers of Swedish can send a
155 message to `sv-request@li.org', having this message body:
157 subscribe
159 Keep in mind that team members are expected to participate
160 _actively_ in translations, or at solving translational difficulties,
161 rather than merely lurking around. If your team does not exist yet and
162 you want to start one, or if you are unsure about what to do or how to
163 get started, please write to `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to reach the
164 coordinator for all translator teams.
166 The English team is special. It works at improving and uniformizing
167 the terminology in use. Proven linguistic skill are praised more than
168 programming skill, here.
170 Available Packages
171 ==================
173 Languages are not equally supported in all packages. The following
174 matrix shows the current state of internationalization, as of January
175 2002. The matrix shows, in regard of each package, for which languages
176 PO files have been submitted to translation coordination, with a
177 translation percentage of at least 50%.
179 Ready PO files bg ca cs da de el en eo es et fi fr
180 +-------------------------------------+
181 a2ps | [] [] [] [] |
182 bash | [] [] [] [] |
183 bfd | [] [] |
184 binutils | [] [] |
185 bison | [] [] [] |
186 clisp | [] [] [] [] |
187 cpio | [] [] [] [] |
188 diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
189 enscript | [] [] |
190 error | [] [] |
191 fetchmail | () [] [] [] () |
192 fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
193 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
194 flex | [] [] [] |
195 gas | [] |
196 gawk | [] [] |
197 gcal | [] [] |
198 gcc | [] [] |
199 gettext | [] [] [] [] [] |
200 gnupg | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
201 gprof | [] [] |
202 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
203 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
204 id-utils | [] [] [] |
205 indent | [] [] [] [] |
206 jpilot | () [] [] [] |
207 jwhois | [] [] |
208 kbd | [] |
209 ld | [] [] |
210 libc | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
211 lilypond | [] [] |
212 lynx | [] [] [] [] |
213 m4 | [] [] [] [] [] |
214 make | [] [] [] [] |
215 mysecretdiary | [] [] |
216 nano | [] () [] [] [] [] |
217 nano_1_0 | [] () [] [] [] [] |
218 opcodes | [] [] [] |
219 parted | [] [] [] [] |
220 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] |
221 python | |
222 recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
223 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
224 sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
225 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
226 sketch | () [] () |
227 soundtracker | [] [] [] |
228 sp | |
229 tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
230 texinfo | [] [] [] [] [] |
231 textutils | [] [] [] [] |
232 util-linux | [] [] [] [] |
233 wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] |
234 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
235 +-------------------------------------+
236 bg ca cs da de el en eo es et fi fr
237 0 8 12 31 36 9 1 9 37 15 1 49
239 gl he hr hu id it ja ko lv nb nl nn
240 +-------------------------------------+
241 a2ps | () () [] |
242 bash | |
243 bfd | [] |
244 binutils | [] |
245 bison | [] |
246 clisp | [] |
247 cpio | [] [] [] |
248 diffutils | [] [] |
249 enscript | [] |
250 error | [] |
251 fetchmail | |
252 fileutils | [] [] |
253 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
254 flex | [] |
255 gas | |
256 gawk | [] |
257 gcal | |
258 gcc | [] |
259 gettext | [] |
260 gnupg | [] [] [] |
261 gprof | |
262 grep | [] [] |
263 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
264 id-utils | [] |
265 indent | [] [] [] |
266 jpilot | () () |
267 jwhois | |
268 kbd | |
269 ld | |
270 libc | [] [] [] [] |
271 lilypond | [] [] |
272 lynx | [] [] |
273 m4 | [] [] [] [] |
274 make | [] [] [] [] |
275 mysecretdiary | |
276 nano | [] [] [] () () [] |
277 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] () () [] |
278 opcodes | |
279 parted | [] [] [] |
280 ptx | [] [] [] [] |
281 python | |
282 recode | [] [] [] |
283 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
284 sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] |
285 sharutils | [] [] [] |
286 sketch | () |
287 soundtracker | [] |
288 sp | |
289 tar | [] [] [] |
290 texinfo | [] [] [] |
291 textutils | [] [] |
292 util-linux | () [] |
293 wdiff | |
294 wget | [] [] [] [] [] |
295 +-------------------------------------+
296 gl he hr hu id it ja ko lv nb nl nn
297 20 6 1 3 6 11 22 9 1 6 17 4
299 no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh
300 +-------------------------------------+
301 a2ps | () () () [] [] [] () | 8
302 bash | | 4
303 bfd | [] [] | 5
304 binutils | [] | 4
305 bison | [] [] [] | 7
306 clisp | | 5
307 cpio | [] [] [] [] | 11
308 diffutils | [] [] [] | 11
309 enscript | [] [] [] | 6
310 error | [] [] | 5
311 fetchmail | () () | 3
312 fileutils | [] [] [] [] | 11
313 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 17
314 flex | [] [] | 6
315 gas | [] | 2
316 gawk | [] [] | 5
317 gcal | [] | 3
318 gcc | [] | 4
319 gettext | [] [] [] [] | 10
320 gnupg | [] [] [] | 12
321 gprof | [] [] | 4
322 grep | [] [] [] [] [] | 13
323 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 24
324 id-utils | [] [] | 6
325 indent | [] [] [] [] | 11
326 jpilot | () () | 3
327 jwhois | () () | 2
328 kbd | [] [] | 3
329 ld | [] [] | 4
330 libc | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 17
331 lilypond | [] | 5
332 lynx | [] [] [] | 9
333 m4 | [] [] [] | 12
334 make | [] [] [] [] | 12
335 mysecretdiary | [] | 3
336 nano | () [] [] [] | 12
337 nano_1_0 | () [] [] [] | 12
338 opcodes | [] [] | 5
339 parted | [] [] [] | 10
340 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 15
341 python | | 0
342 recode | [] [] [] [] | 13
343 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 21
344 sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 22
345 sharutils | [] [] | 11
346 sketch | () | 1
347 soundtracker | | 4
348 sp | | 0
349 tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 16
350 texinfo | [] [] | 10
351 textutils | [] [] | 8
352 util-linux | [] [] [] | 8
353 wdiff | [] [] [] [] | 9
354 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 19
355 +-------------------------------------+
356 35 teams no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh
357 54 domains 5 12 2 11 25 10 11 39 29 4 1 463
359 Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
360 visible blocks let us expect. This is because a few extra PO files are
361 used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
362 dialects.
364 For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
365 which it applies should also have been internationalized and
366 distributed as such by its maintainer. There might be an observable
367 lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
368 distribution.
370 If January 2002 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy of
371 this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites. The most up-to-date
372 matrix with full percentage details can be found at
373 `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
375 Using `gettext' in new packages
376 ===============================
378 If you are writing a freely available program and want to
379 internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
380 package. Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
381 License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library. This means
382 in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
383 library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
384 library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
386 Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
387 to use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations. The
388 Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
389 developed inside the GNU project. Therefore the information given above
390 applies also for every other Free Software Project. Contact
391 `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
392 the translation teams.