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.