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 April
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 | [] () |
238 gpe-calendar | [] [] |
245 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] |
246 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] |
248 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] |
252 gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] |
256 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
260 gst-plugins | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
261 gstreamer | [] [] [] [] [] |
263 gtkspell | [] [] [] |
264 hello | [] [] [] [] |
269 iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] [] |
280 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
282 libgpewidget | [] [] [] |
284 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] |
293 man-db | [] () [] [] |
295 mysecretdiary | [] [] |
297 nano_1_0 | [] () [] [] |
299 parted | [] [] [] [] |
305 recode | [] [] [] [] [] |
308 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
311 shared-mime-info | [] [] |
312 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
317 soundtracker | [] [] |
322 textutils | [] [] [] |
325 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
326 unicode-han-tra... | |
327 unicode-transla... | |
328 util-linux | [] [] [] [] |
329 vorbis-tools | [] [] [] [] |
331 wdiff | [] [] [] [] |
332 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
333 xchat | [] [] [] [] |
336 +-------------------------------------------------+
337 af am ar az be bg bs ca cs cy da de el en en_GB
338 10 0 0 2 7 4 0 41 43 3 52 90 20 1 15
340 eo es et eu fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it
341 +-----------------------------------------------+
352 bibshelf | [] [] [] |
354 bison | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
355 bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
358 coreutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
361 darkstat | [] () [] [] [] |
362 dialog | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
363 diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
365 e2fsprogs | [] [] [] |
367 error | [] [] [] [] [] |
369 fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
370 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
378 gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] |
379 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
380 gettext-tools | [] [] [] |
384 glunarclock | [] [] [] |
388 gnucash-glossary | [] [] |
391 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] |
392 gpe-clock | [] [] [] |
397 gpe-login | [] [] [] |
398 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] [] |
399 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] |
401 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] |
402 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] |
403 gpe-today | [] [] [] [] |
404 gpe-todo | [] [] [] |
405 gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] [] |
407 gpsdrive | () () [] () |
409 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
413 gst-plugins | [] [] [] |
415 gtick | [] [] [] [] [] |
416 gtkspell | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
417 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
418 id-utils | [] [] [] [] |
420 indent | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
421 iso_3166 | [] [] [] |
422 iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
425 iso_4217 | [] [] [] |
426 iso_639 | [] [] [] [] |
429 jwhois | [] [] [] [] [] |
433 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
435 libgpewidget | [] [] [] [] [] |
437 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
441 lingoteach | [] [] [] |
445 make | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
447 minicom | [] [] [] [] |
448 mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
449 nano | [] [] () [] [] |
450 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] [] |
452 parted | [] [] [] [] |
454 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
458 recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
461 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] |
462 sed | [] [] [] [] [] |
463 sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
464 shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
465 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
470 soundtracker | [] [] [] |
473 tar | [] [] [] [] [] |
475 textutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
478 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
479 unicode-han-tra... | |
480 unicode-transla... | [] [] |
481 util-linux | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
482 vorbis-tools | [] [] |
484 wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
485 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
486 xchat | [] [] [] [] [] |
489 +-----------------------------------------------+
490 eo es et eu fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it
491 13 85 21 15 2 35 115 45 17 8 6 40 27 1 45
493 ja ko ku lg lt lv mk mn ms mt nb nl nn no nso
494 +-----------------------------------------------+
516 diffutils | [] [] [] |
531 gettext-examples | [] [] |
532 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] |
533 gettext-tools | [] [] |
537 glunarclock | [] [] |
541 gnucash-glossary | [] |
552 gpe-sketchbook | [] |
554 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] |
560 gpsdrive | () () () |
570 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
578 iso_4217 | [] [] [] |
586 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
603 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] |
614 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] |
617 shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] |
628 textutils | [] [] [] |
631 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
632 unicode-han-tra... | |
633 unicode-transla... | |
639 xchat | [] [] [] [] |
640 xkeyboard-config | [] |
642 +-----------------------------------------------+
643 ja ko ku lg lt lv mk mn ms mt nb nl nn no nso
644 33 11 1 1 1 2 2 3 11 0 15 96 7 5 0
646 or pa pl pt pt_BR rm ro ru rw sk sl sq sr sv ta
647 +-------------------------------------------------+
649 a2ps | () [] [] [] [] [] [] |
660 bison | [] [] [] [] [] |
661 bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
664 coreutils | [] [] [] [] |
667 darkstat | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
668 dialog | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
669 diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
672 enscript | [] [] [] [] |
674 fetchmail | [] () [] [] [] |
675 fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
676 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
677 flex | [] [] [] [] [] |
684 gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
685 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
686 gettext-tools | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
690 glunarclock | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
691 gmult | [] [] [] [] |
693 gnucash | () [] [] [] [] |
694 gnucash-glossary | [] [] [] |
695 gpe-aerial | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
696 gpe-beam | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
697 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
698 gpe-clock | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
699 gpe-conf | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
700 gpe-contacts | [] [] [] |
701 gpe-edit | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
702 gpe-go | [] [] [] [] [] |
703 gpe-login | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
704 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
705 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
706 gpe-su | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
707 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
708 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
709 gpe-today | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
710 gpe-todo | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
711 gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] |
715 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
717 gsasl | [] [] [] [] [] |
719 gst-plugins | [] [] [] [] |
720 gstreamer | [] [] [] [] |
722 gtkspell | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
723 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
724 id-utils | [] [] [] [] |
726 indent | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
727 iso_3166 | [] [] [] [] [] |
728 iso_3166_1 | [] [] [] [] |
730 iso_3166_3 | [] [] [] |
735 jwhois | [] [] [] () () |
739 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
741 libgpewidget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
742 libgsasl | [] [] [] |
743 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
749 m4 | [] [] [] [] [] |
750 mailutils | [] [] [] |
753 minicom | [] [] [] [] |
754 mysecretdiary | [] [] [] [] |
756 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] |
758 parted | [] [] [] [] |
760 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
764 recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
767 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
768 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
769 sh-utils | [] [] [] |
770 shared-mime-info | [] [] [] [] [] |
771 sharutils | [] [] [] |
776 soundtracker | [] [] |
780 texinfo | [] [] [] [] |
781 textutils | [] [] [] |
784 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
785 unicode-han-tra... | |
786 unicode-transla... | |
787 util-linux | [] [] [] |
788 vorbis-tools | [] [] |
790 wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
791 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
792 xchat | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
795 +-------------------------------------------------+
796 or pa pl pt pt_BR rm ro ru rw sk sl sq sr sv ta
797 1 0 48 30 58 6 79 71 5 45 13 12 50 86 0
799 tg th tk tr uk ven vi wa xh zh_CN zh_TW zu
800 +--------------------------------------------+
807 aspell | [] [] [] | 13
809 batchelor | [] [] | 7
814 bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] | 24
816 console-tools | [] | 4
820 darkstat | [] () () | 15
821 dialog | [] [] [] | 25
822 diffutils | [] [] [] [] | 28
826 error | [] [] [] | 16
828 fileutils | [] [] [] | 18
829 findutils | [] [] | 17
837 gettext-examples | [] [] [] [] | 20
838 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] | 25
839 gettext-tools | [] [] [] | 17
843 glunarclock | [] [] | 13
844 gmult | [] [] [] | 13
847 gnucash-glossary | [] | 8
848 gpe-aerial | [] [] | 13
849 gpe-beam | [] [] | 13
850 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] | 18
851 gpe-clock | [] [] [] [] | 17
852 gpe-conf | [] [] | 12
853 gpe-contacts | [] [] | 6
854 gpe-edit | [] [] [] [] | 15
856 gpe-login | [] [] [] [] [] | 18
857 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] | 19
858 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] | 14
859 gpe-su | [] [] [] | 16
860 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] | 17
861 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] | 17
862 gpe-today | [] [] [] [] [] | 19
863 gpe-todo | [] [] [] | 16
868 grep | [] [] [] [] | 32
872 gst-plugins | [] [] | 16
873 gstreamer | [] [] [] | 14
875 gtkspell | [] [] [] | 20
876 hello | [] [] [] [] | 37
877 id-utils | [] [] | 13
879 indent | [] [] [] | 24
880 iso_3166 | [] [] [] | 12
881 iso_3166_1 | [] [] | 20
883 iso_3166_3 | [] [] | 8
884 iso_4217 | [] [] | 10
886 jpilot | [] [] [] | 6
888 jwhois | [] [] [] | 12
894 libgpewidget | [] [] | 17
896 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] | 32
907 mysecretdiary | [] [] | 12
909 nano_1_0 | [] [] | 17
911 parted | [] [] [] | 17
920 scrollkeeper | [] [] | 23
923 shared-mime-info | [] [] | 19
924 sharutils | [] [] [] | 20
929 soundtracker | [] | 8
931 stardict | [] [] [] [] | 10
934 textutils | [] [] [] | 17
937 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] | 34
938 unicode-han-tra... | | 0
939 unicode-transla... | | 2
940 util-linux | [] [] | 17
941 vorbis-tools | [] | 10
944 wget | [] [] [] [] | 31
945 xchat | [] [] [] | 22
946 xkeyboard-config | | 1
948 +--------------------------------------------+
949 72 teams tg th tk tr uk ven vi wa xh zh_CN zh_TW zu
950 147 domains 0 0 1 78 29 0 71 16 0 41 20 0 1711
952 Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
953 visible blocks let us expect. This is because a few extra PO files are
954 used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
957 For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
958 which it applies should also have been internationalized and
959 distributed as such by its maintainer. There might be an observable
960 lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
963 If April 2005 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy of
964 this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites. The most up-to-date
965 matrix with full percentage details can be found at
966 `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
968 1.6 Using `gettext' in new packages
969 ===================================
971 If you are writing a freely available program and want to
972 internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
973 package. Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
974 License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library. This means
975 in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
976 library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
977 library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
979 Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
980 the use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations. The
981 Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
982 developed inside the GNU project. Therefore the information given above
983 applies also for every other Free Software Project. Contact
984 `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
985 the translation teams.
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