1
1 Notes on the Free Translation Project
2
***************************************
4
Free software is going international! The Free Translation Project is
5
a way to get maintainers of free software, translators, and users all
6
together, so that free software will gradually become able to speak many
7
languages. A few packages already provide translations for their
10
If you found this `ABOUT-NLS' file inside a distribution, you may
11
assume that the distributed package does use GNU `gettext' internally,
12
itself available at your nearest GNU archive site. But you do _not_
13
need to install GNU `gettext' prior to configuring, installing or using
14
this package with messages translated.
16
Installers will find here some useful hints. These notes also
17
explain how users should proceed for getting the programs to use the
18
available translations. They tell how people wanting to contribute and
19
work on translations can contact the appropriate team.
21
When reporting bugs in the `intl/' directory or bugs which may be
22
related to internationalization, you should tell about the version of
23
`gettext' which is used. The information can be found in the
24
`intl/VERSION' file, in internationalized packages.
26
1.1 Quick configuration advice
27
==============================
29
If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
30
should configure it using
32
./configure --with-included-gettext
34
to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
35
package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
36
operating system where this package is being installed. So far, only
37
the `gettext' implementation in the GNU C library version 2 provides as
38
many features (such as locale alias, message inheritance, automatic
39
charset conversion or plural form handling) as the implementation here.
40
It is also not possible to offer this additional functionality on top
41
of a `catgets' implementation. Future versions of GNU `gettext' will
42
very likely convey even more functionality. So it might be a good idea
43
to change to GNU `gettext' as soon as possible.
45
So you need _not_ provide this option if you are using GNU libc 2 or
46
you have installed a recent copy of the GNU gettext package with the
52
Some packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the programs
53
they contain can be made to speak your own native language. Most such
54
packages use GNU `gettext'. Other packages have their own ways to
55
internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
57
By default, this package will be installed to allow translation of
58
messages. It will automatically detect whether the system already
59
provides the GNU `gettext' functions. If not, the included GNU
60
`gettext' library will be used. This library is wholly contained
61
within this package, usually in the `intl/' subdirectory, so prior
62
installation of the GNU `gettext' package is _not_ required.
63
Installers may use special options at configuration time for changing
64
the default behaviour. The commands:
66
./configure --with-included-gettext
67
./configure --disable-nls
69
will, respectively, bypass any pre-existing `gettext' to use the
70
internationalizing routines provided within this package, or else,
71
_totally_ disable translation of messages.
73
When you already have GNU `gettext' installed on your system and run
74
configure without an option for your new package, `configure' will
75
probably detect the previously built and installed `libintl.a' file and
76
will decide to use this. This might not be desirable. You should use
77
the more recent version of the GNU `gettext' library. I.e. if the file
78
`intl/VERSION' shows that the library which comes with this package is
79
more recent, you should use
81
./configure --with-included-gettext
83
to prevent auto-detection.
85
The configuration process will not test for the `catgets' function
86
and therefore it will not be used. The reason is that even an
87
emulation of `gettext' on top of `catgets' could not provide all the
88
extensions of the GNU `gettext' library.
90
Internationalized packages usually have many `po/LL.po' files, where
91
LL gives an ISO 639 two-letter code identifying the language. Unless
92
translations have been forbidden at `configure' time by using the
93
`--disable-nls' switch, all available translations are installed
94
together with the package. However, the environment variable `LINGUAS'
95
may be set, prior to configuration, to limit the installed set.
96
`LINGUAS' should then contain a space separated list of two-letter
97
codes, stating which languages are allowed.
99
1.3 Using This Package
100
======================
102
As a user, if your language has been installed for this package, you
103
only have to set the `LANG' environment variable to the appropriate
104
`LL_CC' combination. Here `LL' is an ISO 639 two-letter language code,
105
and `CC' is an ISO 3166 two-letter country code. For example, let's
106
suppose that you speak German and live in Germany. At the shell
107
prompt, merely execute `setenv LANG de_DE' (in `csh'),
108
`export LANG; LANG=de_DE' (in `sh') or `export LANG=de_DE' (in `bash').
109
This can be done from your `.login' or `.profile' file, once and for
112
You might think that the country code specification is redundant.
113
But in fact, some languages have dialects in different countries. For
114
example, `de_AT' is used for Austria, and `pt_BR' for Brazil. The
115
country code serves to distinguish the dialects.
117
The locale naming convention of `LL_CC', with `LL' denoting the
118
language and `CC' denoting the country, is the one use on systems based
119
on GNU libc. On other systems, some variations of this scheme are
120
used, such as `LL' or `LL_CC.ENCODING'. You can get the list of
121
locales supported by your system for your country by running the command
122
`locale -a | grep '^LL''.
124
Not all programs have translations for all languages. By default, an
125
English message is shown in place of a nonexistent translation. If you
126
understand other languages, you can set up a priority list of languages.
127
This is done through a different environment variable, called
128
`LANGUAGE'. GNU `gettext' gives preference to `LANGUAGE' over `LANG'
129
for the purpose of message handling, but you still need to have `LANG'
130
set to the primary language; this is required by other parts of the
131
system libraries. For example, some Swedish users who would rather
132
read translations in German than English for when Swedish is not
133
available, set `LANGUAGE' to `sv:de' while leaving `LANG' to `sv_SE'.
135
Special advice for Norwegian users: The language code for Norwegian
136
bokma*l changed from `no' to `nb' recently (in 2003). During the
137
transition period, while some message catalogs for this language are
138
installed under `nb' and some older ones under `no', it's recommended
139
for Norwegian users to set `LANGUAGE' to `nb:no' so that both newer and
140
older translations are used.
142
In the `LANGUAGE' environment variable, but not in the `LANG'
143
environment variable, `LL_CC' combinations can be abbreviated as `LL'
144
to denote the language's main dialect. For example, `de' is equivalent
145
to `de_DE' (German as spoken in Germany), and `pt' to `pt_PT'
146
(Portuguese as spoken in Portugal) in this context.
148
1.4 Translating Teams
149
=====================
151
For the Free Translation Project to be a success, we need interested
152
people who like their own language and write it well, and who are also
153
able to synergize with other translators speaking the same language.
154
Each translation team has its own mailing list. The up-to-date list of
155
teams can be found at the Free Translation Project's homepage,
156
`http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/', in the "National teams"
159
If you'd like to volunteer to _work_ at translating messages, you
160
should become a member of the translating team for your own language.
161
The subscribing address is _not_ the same as the list itself, it has
162
`-request' appended. For example, speakers of Swedish can send a
163
message to `sv-request@li.org', having this message body:
167
Keep in mind that team members are expected to participate
168
_actively_ in translations, or at solving translational difficulties,
169
rather than merely lurking around. If your team does not exist yet and
170
you want to start one, or if you are unsure about what to do or how to
171
get started, please write to `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to reach the
172
coordinator for all translator teams.
174
The English team is special. It works at improving and uniformizing
175
the terminology in use. Proven linguistic skill are praised more than
176
programming skill, here.
178
1.5 Available Packages
179
======================
181
Languages are not equally supported in all packages. The following
182
matrix shows the current state of internationalization, as of March
183
2005. The matrix shows, in regard of each package, for which languages
184
PO files have been submitted to translation coordination, with a
185
translation percentage of at least 50%.
187
Ready PO files af am ar az be bg bs ca cs cy da de el en en_GB
188
+-------------------------------------------------+
190
a2ps | [] [] [] [] [] |
195
aspell | [] [] [] [] |
202
bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] |
204
console-tools | [] [] |
205
coreutils | [] [] [] [] |
208
darkstat | [] () [] |
209
dialog | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
210
diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
213
enscript | [] [] [] [] |
214
error | [] [] [] [] |
215
fetchmail | [] () [] [] [] |
217
findutils | [] [] [] |
225
gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] |
226
gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] |
227
gettext-tools | [] [] |
228
gimp-print | [] [] [] [] |
234
gnucash | [] () () [] |
235
gnucash-glossary | [] () |
236
gnupg | [] () [] [] |
239
gpe-calendar | [] [] |
246
gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] |
247
gpe-sketchbook | [] [] |
249
gpe-taskmanager | [] [] |
253
gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] |
257
grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
261
gst-plugins | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
262
gstreamer | [] [] [] [] [] |
264
gtkspell | [] [] [] |
265
hello | [] [] [] [] |
270
iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] [] |
281
libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
283
libgpewidget | [] [] [] |
285
libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] |
294
man-db | [] () [] [] |
296
mysecretdiary | [] [] |
298
nano_1_0 | [] () [] [] |
300
parted | [] [] [] [] |
306
recode | [] [] [] [] [] |
309
scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
312
shared-mime-info | [] [] |
313
sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
318
soundtracker | [] [] |
323
textutils | [] [] [] |
326
tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
327
unicode-han-tra... | |
328
unicode-transla... | |
329
util-linux | [] [] [] [] |
330
vorbis-tools | [] [] [] [] |
332
wdiff | [] [] [] [] |
333
wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
334
xchat | [] [] [] [] |
337
+-------------------------------------------------+
338
af am ar az be bg bs ca cs cy da de el en en_GB
339
10 0 0 2 7 4 0 42 43 3 53 92 21 1 15
341
eo es et eu fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it
342
+-----------------------------------------------+
353
bibshelf | [] [] [] |
355
bison | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
356
bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
359
coreutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
362
darkstat | [] () [] [] [] |
363
dialog | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
364
diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
366
e2fsprogs | [] [] [] |
368
error | [] [] [] [] [] |
370
fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
371
findutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
379
gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] |
380
gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
381
gettext-tools | [] [] |
385
glunarclock | [] [] [] |
389
gnucash-glossary | [] [] |
390
gnupg | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
393
gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] |
394
gpe-clock | [] [] [] |
399
gpe-login | [] [] [] |
400
gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] [] |
401
gpe-sketchbook | [] [] |
403
gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] |
404
gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] |
405
gpe-today | [] [] [] [] |
406
gpe-todo | [] [] [] |
407
gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] [] |
409
gpsdrive | () () [] () |
411
grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
415
gst-plugins | [] [] [] |
417
gtick | [] [] [] [] [] |
418
gtkspell | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
419
hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
420
id-utils | [] [] [] [] |
422
indent | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
424
iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
431
jwhois | [] [] [] [] [] |
435
libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
437
libgpewidget | [] [] [] [] [] |
439
libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
443
lingoteach | [] [] [] |
447
make | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
449
minicom | [] [] [] [] |
450
mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
451
nano | [] [] () [] [] |
452
nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] [] |
454
parted | [] [] [] [] |
456
ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
460
recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
463
scrollkeeper | [] [] |
464
sed | [] [] [] [] [] |
465
sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
466
shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
467
sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
468
silky | () [] () () |
472
soundtracker | [] [] [] |
475
tar | [] [] [] [] [] |
477
textutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
480
tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
481
unicode-han-tra... | |
482
unicode-transla... | [] [] |
483
util-linux | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
484
vorbis-tools | [] [] |
486
wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
487
wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
488
xchat | [] [] [] [] [] |
491
+-----------------------------------------------+
492
eo es et eu fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it
493
14 86 22 15 2 31 117 44 18 8 6 40 28 1 45
495
ja ko lg lt lv mk mn ms mt nb nl nn no nso or
496
+-----------------------------------------------+
518
diffutils | [] [] [] |
533
gettext-examples | [] [] |
534
gettext-runtime | [] [] [] |
535
gettext-tools | [] [] |
539
glunarclock | [] [] |
543
gnucash-glossary | [] |
555
gpe-sketchbook | [] |
557
gpe-taskmanager | [] |
563
gpsdrive | () () () |
569
gst-plugins | [] [] |
573
hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
581
iso_4217 | [] [] [] |
589
libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
606
nano_1_0 | [] [] [] |
617
scrollkeeper | [] [] [] |
620
shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] |
631
textutils | [] [] [] |
634
tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
635
unicode-han-tra... | |
636
unicode-transla... | |
642
xchat | [] [] [] [] |
643
xkeyboard-config | [] |
645
+-----------------------------------------------+
646
ja ko lg lt lv mk mn ms mt nb nl nn no nso or
647
35 11 1 1 2 2 3 11 0 15 96 7 5 0 1
649
pa pl pt pt_BR rm ro ru rw sk sl sq sr sv ta
650
+----------------------------------------------+
652
a2ps | () [] [] [] [] [] [] |
663
bison | [] [] [] [] [] |
664
bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
667
coreutils | [] [] [] [] |
670
darkstat | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
671
dialog | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
672
diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
675
enscript | [] [] [] [] |
677
fetchmail | [] () [] [] [] |
678
fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
679
findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
680
flex | [] [] [] [] [] |
687
gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
688
gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
689
gettext-tools | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
693
glunarclock | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
694
gmult | [] [] [] [] |
696
gnucash | () [] [] [] [] |
697
gnucash-glossary | [] [] [] |
699
gpe-aerial | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
700
gpe-beam | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
701
gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
702
gpe-clock | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
703
gpe-conf | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
704
gpe-contacts | [] [] [] |
705
gpe-edit | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
706
gpe-go | [] [] [] [] [] |
707
gpe-login | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
708
gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
709
gpe-sketchbook | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
710
gpe-su | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
711
gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
712
gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
713
gpe-today | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
714
gpe-todo | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
715
gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] |
719
grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
721
gsasl | [] [] [] [] [] |
723
gst-plugins | [] [] [] |
724
gstreamer | [] [] [] [] |
726
gtkspell | [] [] [] [] [] |
727
hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
728
id-utils | [] [] [] [] |
730
indent | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
731
iso_3166 | [] [] [] [] [] |
732
iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] |
734
iso_3166_3 | [] [] [] |
739
jwhois | [] [] [] () () |
743
libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
745
libgpewidget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
746
libgsasl | [] [] [] |
747
libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
753
m4 | [] [] [] [] [] |
754
mailutils | [] [] [] |
757
minicom | [] [] [] [] |
758
mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
760
nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] |
762
parted | [] [] [] [] |
764
ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
768
recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
771
scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
772
sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
773
sh-utils | [] [] [] |
774
shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] [] |
775
sharutils | [] [] [] |
780
soundtracker | [] [] |
784
texinfo | [] [] [] [] |
785
textutils | [] [] [] |
788
tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
789
unicode-han-tra... | |
790
unicode-transla... | |
791
util-linux | [] [] [] |
792
vorbis-tools | [] [] |
794
wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
795
wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
796
xchat | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
799
+----------------------------------------------+
800
pa pl pt pt_BR rm ro ru rw sk sl sq sr sv ta
801
0 48 30 58 6 81 69 4 46 13 12 50 88 0
803
tg th tk tr uk ven vi wa xh zh_CN zh_TW zu
804
+--------------------------------------------+
811
aspell | [] [] [] | 13
813
batchelor | [] [] | 7
818
bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] | 24
820
console-tools | [] | 4
824
darkstat | [] () () | 15
826
diffutils | [] [] [] | 27
832
fileutils | [] [] [] | 18
833
findutils | [] [] | 16
841
gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] | 20
842
gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] | 25
843
gettext-tools | [] [] [] | 16
847
glunarclock | [] [] | 14
848
gmult | [] [] [] | 13
851
gnucash-glossary | [] | 8
852
gnupg | [] [] [] | 19
853
gpe-aerial | [] [] | 13
854
gpe-beam | [] [] | 13
855
gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] | 18
856
gpe-clock | [] [] [] | 16
857
gpe-conf | [] [] | 12
858
gpe-contacts | [] [] | 6
859
gpe-edit | [] [] [] | 14
861
gpe-login | [] [] [] [] | 17
862
gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] | 18
863
gpe-sketchbook | [] | 13
865
gpe-taskmanager | [] [] | 15
866
gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] | 16
867
gpe-today | [] [] [] [] | 18
868
gpe-todo | [] [] [] | 16
873
grep | [] [] [] [] | 32
877
gst-plugins | [] [] | 16
878
gstreamer | [] [] [] | 14
880
gtkspell | [] [] [] | 19
881
hello | [] [] [] [] | 37
882
id-utils | [] [] | 13
884
indent | [] [] [] | 24
885
iso_3166 | [] [] | 10
886
iso_3166_1 | [] [] | 19
888
iso_3166_3 | [] [] | 8
891
jpilot | [] [] [] | 6
893
jwhois | [] [] [] | 12
899
libgpewidget | [] [] | 17
901
libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] | 32
912
mysecretdiary | [] [] | 11
914
nano_1_0 | [] [] | 17
916
parted | [] [] [] | 17
925
scrollkeeper | [] [] | 22
928
shared-mime-info | [] [] | 19
929
sharutils | [] [] [] | 20
934
soundtracker | [] | 8
936
stardict | [] [] [] [] | 10
939
textutils | [] [] [] | 17
942
tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] | 34
943
unicode-han-tra... | | 0
944
unicode-transla... | | 2
945
util-linux | [] [] | 17
946
vorbis-tools | [] | 10
949
wget | [] [] [] [] | 31
950
xchat | [] [] [] | 22
951
xkeyboard-config | | 1
953
+--------------------------------------------+
954
71 teams tg th tk tr uk ven vi wa xh zh_CN zh_TW zu
955
148 domains 0 0 1 69 29 0 61 16 0 42 21 0 1704
957
Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
958
visible blocks let us expect. This is because a few extra PO files are
959
used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
962
For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
963
which it applies should also have been internationalized and
964
distributed as such by its maintainer. There might be an observable
965
lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
968
If March 2005 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy of
969
this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites. The most up-to-date
970
matrix with full percentage details can be found at
971
`http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
973
1.6 Using `gettext' in new packages
974
===================================
976
If you are writing a freely available program and want to
977
internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
978
package. Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
979
License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library. This means
980
in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
981
library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
982
library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
984
Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
985
the use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations. The
986
Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
987
developed inside the GNU project. Therefore the information given above
988
applies also for every other Free Software Project. Contact
989
`translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
990
the translation teams.