[sword-devel] Radically simpler Bible software: more feasible to internationalize (looking for volunteers)

[Chris Little]

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003, Hugo van der Kooij wrote:

> On Wed, 10 Dec 2003, Lynn Allan wrote:
> 
> > Back to the point about facilitating internationalization: As the LcdBible
> > now stands, it would be nearly trivial to internationalize. There are 27
> > books of the New Testament, and the words "Search Phrase". That's it. 29 wor
> > ds. Probably 15 minutes with Google?
> 
> Dutch:
> 
> Search Phrase ==> Zoek opdracht (Not a literal translation but IM(NS)HO a 
> better one.)

This is an important concept.  Don't translate "search" then "phrase" and 
stick the two together.  You'll end up with the worst possible 
translations about 100% of the time.  Translate the concept.  And a a 
general rule, if you're not native speaker of the target language or you 
don't have a native speaker who can check your work, don't bother--you're 
not qualified.

BTW, with respect to French, a head-initial language, the noun will almost
certainly come before the adjective in the translation of "search phrase".  
And the translation of "transliteration" is "translittération"--any 
reasonably fluent French speaker (not even necessarily native) should be 
able to spell "transliteration" for you, according to French orthography, 
and give you the correct term, even if he has never heard the word 
"transliteration" before.  But latinate terms are kind of easy, especially 
going from English to French and Italian.

--Chris