On Sunday 26 January 2003 20:59, Ossama Khayaat wrote:
Assalamou Alaikom,
First of all, I'd like to apologize for not being so able to
work hardly on the full_wordlist.po file as I wanted to.
This is because of my business of teaching. Anyway,
I have several thought I thoughts and questions I have
about the process.
Osama .. you've done great so far .. Thank you for the great efforts ..
1- Is this file a template used for all translation projects
so that they have to translate it to their language and use
it as the standard dictionary file?
you can say that this file is multiperpose .. it can be used for translation
projects, and for QaMoose (the online Dict) and for other dictionary programs
in Linux.. and windows developers are free to use it for their Open Source
programs in Windows :-)
2- Several times I found words that are non existant (at
least in the dictionaries of the Internet) and couldn't find
them using www.onelook.com, which is (IMHO) the best
place to search since it looks up alomst all the dictionaries
on the Internet. So, what I did almost always is add words
similar to these words that are not previously added so is
this ok?
Adding new words to the Word list is very needed .. you are doing a great
Auditing effort for the list ..
3- When there is a word that might have several meanings,
or that is not self-describing, I (sometimes) put it as:
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
msgid "Ainu"
msgstr "فرد من الأيْنو"
"لغة الأيْنو"
"جماعة من النازحين إلى الأرخبيل الياباني"
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
Is this the correct way. I tried to find out but couldn't find
any thing about this.
I prefere putting only one translation for it.. as if this file is used for
Automatic "rough" translation for interface and so .. one translation would
do .. try to go with the most common one .. or the one that is connected to
the technical use ..
I think it's much better to include several meanings at least
for obscure words that might have different meanings and/or
uses, so what do you think?
Repeating the same msgid would case a faulty PO file .. and having more than
one meaning at the msgstr part would make the file less usable for rough
translation .. so I will go with only one translation .. this is my opinion
.. what do others think ?
4- When I find a word that could (again IMHO) be not so
accurate, I will replace it or add to it: Example:
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
msgid "Airway"
msgstr "الحنجرة"
"ممرّ هوائي"
"خطّ جوّي"
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
Go with replacing instead of adding..
5- A confusing thig is the use of Alef-Lam at the start of each
verb or term. This is sometimes there and sometimes not.
Don't you think it's better to just remove it except for names?
Also, the way verbs and their derivatives are translated is either
wrong or at least not consistent: Example:
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
msgid "Kill"
msgstr "القتل"
msgid "Killing"
msgstr "القتل"
msgid "Swim"
msgstr "السباحة"
msgid "Read"
msgstr "إقرأ"
-- full_wordlist.po quote --
I think that the ALEF and LAM should not be used in the translation.. As there
is a slight chance that this file can be used for creating a reversed file ..
an arabic-to-english one .. so I prefere having a consistant way to deal with
it .. that is to drop the ALEF LAM
These ideas are in my mind now, and I might have other as well
when I'm working on it.
The whole idea is that when we do something we want it to be as
accurate as possible. Also, we need to make Arabic more appealing
in a way that we could use simple and easy terms. For example,
whey use إنقُر when I can use إضغط?? or زبون for client and not مستخدم
to make it simpler and more appealing... and the list goes on.
It seems that you got all your hands and head into translation :-) and your
thoughts about the use of more easy and familiar terms are great !!
There are just some thoughts and Ideas, and I hope I will get a detailed
feedback or maybe I can (with your help) start a how to for the
translation of this file which needs more people to get involved.
Also, if necissary, I'm able to put a simple prize for those who help and
provide them with copies of what ever flavour of Linux that can be
downloaded from the Internet, copied on CDs and delivered to their
country FREE :)
Way to go :-) I hope that this will urge people to join in :-) I join with
Osama with offering CDs .. for those who start working in Arabic Translation
I will send them Linux Distribution CDs of their liking that are available
here.. I hope that this will urge new comers to jump in ..
Yours
Isam Bayazidi
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