[Mageia-discuss] What is your motivation? (about American English in Mageia for British users)

Wed Jul 25 14:59:53 CEST 2012

On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 1:56 PM, Anne Wilson <annew at kde.org> wrote:
+
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+> On 25/07/12 03:23, RICHARD WALKER wrote:
+> > On 25/07/2012, Morgan Leijström <fri at tribun.eu> wrote:
+> >> The system source and interface must be written in *one*
+> >> consistent language.
+> >>
+> >
+> > I'm not sure I understand the imperative.
+> <snip>
+> > If I expect my users to be of many nationalities then I would also
+> > expect to have to do some translating. The consistency of which you
+> > speak comes from having the translations expected by the population
+> > of users.
+> >
+> Yet surely you understand when you are told that the problem is purely
+> a lack of manpower.  Mageia would welcome en_GB translations.
+> Register to work on it.
+>
+> >> And the fact is that the most common used language in the system
+> >> is en_US
+> >>
+> >> Therefor it should be purified to *en_US*
+> >>
+> >> And all other en_* should be translations.
+> >
+> > Again we seem to differ. I hope you didn't mean "purified", that's
+> > probably just a mis-translation where something like "rationalised"
+> > or "simplified" might have been a better choice.
+>
+> No - you are wrong.  "purified" means to make one consistent language.
+>
+> > Where we really differ, though, is in regarding all languages (with
+> > the exception of the US variant of English) as being targets for
+> > translation. I would not discriminate against our trans-atlantic
+> > cousins in that way. I would include their language as a valid
+> > target for translation and then we would all be equal.
+> >
+> This is utterly ridiculous.  There has to be a single "core" language.
+>  That has been chosen.  It is perfectly obvious that every other
+> language must then be a translation of the core.  This has nothing to
+> do with discrimination.
+>
+> I am English born and bred, and 72 years old.  I defend my language
+> whenever I think it is necessary, but your stance is not defensible.
+>
+> <snip>
+> >
+> > Sensitive cultural and social use of language is much too complex
+> > a subject for people who focus on logic to understand, especially
+> > in a foreign language.
+> >
+> How insular can you get?  No wonder the British are seen as somewhat
+> ridiculous.  Are you seriously suggesting that an Englishman cannot
+> understand the word "color"?  Of course not.  Please do not waste
+> people's time like this.  If you feel strongly that there should be an
+> en_GB translation of everything, then contribute to it.
+>
+
+I am so glad that Anne said that, because she is one of the few people
+qualified to say what I, and probably several others, were thinking.
+I grew up learning en_US, but due to one thing or another was exposed to
+mainly en_GB in high school. Since I have an open mind to these things, I
+taught myself en_GB spelling, grammar (which is slightly different when
+spoken) and idioms. Of course I am most comfortable in en_US, but that's
+not the point. The point is the mindset. This stubbornness of "how darest
+thou dilute my native language with the vulgarities of another" is very
+off-putting. In fact, it makes me instinctively want to retaliate in kind,
+and quickly degrade to name-calling and pinching. It indicates that this
+person does not really want to formulate any kind of change or anything.
+No, they just want to complain. And loudly.
+Rather than jump on a soap box and pontificate to a mostly indifferent
+audience, why not do something about it?
+We have all been saying over and over again that this was not done out of
+malice, callousness or some perverted desire to errode the British
+language. It was done this way to conform with well-established standards
+and common practice. The only thing preventing drakx tools from having
+certain British spellings is a lack of manpower.
+Anybody and everybody is welcome to provide input, criticism and their own
+opinion. But what makes it constructive criticism is the way it is
+delivered, and what you are willing to do about it.
+As they say in NY, put out or get out. The British translation for that
+would be: get down from your high horse and help out or just go away.
+So please, you are welcome to join the Mageia team and provide an en_GB
+translation for what is missing. You are welcome to sit in silent defiance
+and nurse your stubbornness. But this, this angst-driven tirade? This is
+not welcome at all. It only generates more angst.
+
+
+>
+> Anne
+> - --
+> Need KDE help? Try
+> http://userbase.kde.org or
+> http://forum.kde.org
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