Re: [kbuild-devel] Re: State of the new config & build system

Horst von Brand
2002-01-01T04:34:23Z

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Christoph Hellwig <hch@caldera.de> said:
> On Fri, Dec 28, 2001 at 03:39:02PM -0500, Eric S. Raymond wrote:
> > It may be that the reason our experiences have been different is
> > because we focus on different target languages. But I think my
> > experience is an existence proof that there *is* demand for
> > localization and that meeting it can have useful results.

> Is your native language something different thæn english or Al's?
>
> Localization for technical messages sucks. badly.
> Just take a look at a european computer magazine, you will find lots of
> english words in the text because there is no german/frensh/whatever
> one. Trying to use different grammar doesn't help the understanding.

It is even worse when they try to "translate" the terms. In Spanish, the
official language calls a computer "ordenador" (sorting device), and a file
"fichero" (filing cabinet). It doesn't help in the least at understanding
the _English_ documentation/source/... Add to it that here in South America
they usually take over the English terms, using "computador" (computing
device) and "archivo" (file). So it can even make it hard to understand the
technical literature in your own language... My standard advise is to learn
English, if nothing else for uniformity's sake. You'll need it anyway
before long in anything related to computing. And it is quite useful in
other areas...
--
Horst von Brand vonbrand@sleipnir.valparaiso.cl
Casilla 9G, Vin~a del Mar, Chile +56 32 672616