FOSS localisation in minorised languages
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The document discusses FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) localization into minoritized languages. It provides context about internationalization vs localization and examples of minoritized languages like Catalan and Romanian. It then discusses specific projects like Softcatal that have localized software into Catalan from the beginning, and how they collaborate with language institutions. It also mentions the Narro project for helping Romanian presence in FOSS through a web translation interface, and Mozilla Romania for supporting users in their language.
FOSS localisation in minorised languages
- 1. FOSS localisation in minorised languages Toni Hermoso Pulido Softcatal member Mozilla Europe member Mozilla l10n-ca
- 2. FOSS Free and Open Source Software Free ( gratuit ) vs Free ( liber ) Freedoms ( FSF definition ) : 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose.
- 3. 1: The freedom to study and modify the program.
- 4. 2: The freedom to copy the program so you can help your neighbor.
- 5. 3: The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.
- 6. Localisation Internationalisation (i18n) vs localisation (l10n)
- 7. Localise: Translate + Adapt to local culture or needs
- 11. Other user support (forums, chats, etc., http://mozilla.ro )
- 12. Minorised and minority languages Minority language: Language spoken by a minor(ity) group in the whole world, in a country or in a region. It may or may not minorised. It may or may not be official. Magyar and German in Romania
- 13. Aranese Occitan in Catalonia
- 14. Irish in Ireland Minorised language: Language which is not fully developed in all the possible situations it might develop, usually formal or even common life ones. It's common among minor languages, but not exclusively. It may occur both in official and not official languages.
- 15. Catalan language Romance language around 9 milion speakers Mainly spoken: Andorra (official)
- 16. France (protected status in Roussillon region)
- 17. Italy (little protection in Alghero city Sardinia)
- 18. Spain Aragon (barely protected)
- 19. Balearic Islands (coofficial with Spanish)
- 20. Catalonia (coofficial with Spanish)
- 21. Valencia (coofficial with Spanish, known as Valencian) First kwnon written document: Homil鱈es d'Organy (s. XI latin script) Source: Wikipedia, CIEMEN
- 22. Romanian language Romance language around 26 milion speakers Mainly spoken: Bulgaria (barely protected)
- 23. Republic of Moldava (official, known as Moldovan)
- 25. Serbia Vojdovina (coofficial with Serbian)
- 26. Rest of Serbia (barely protected) Ukraine (barely protected) First known written document: Neacu's letter. (around 1521 cyrillic script) Source: Wikipedia
- 27. Other languages Source: Eurominority
- 28. Is Romanian a minority language? Is Romanian a minorised language? Please, comment.
- 29. Is Romanian a minority language? Is Romanian a minorised language?
- 30. Language presence in FOSS projects https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid/+translations http://l10n.gnome.org/releases/gnome-2-24 Hard to measure, some rough estimations can be drawn from:
- 31. Softcatal Recently 10 years
- 32. No software localised into Catalan before only available in Spanish, French or English
- 33. A group of friends, some who worked in computer l10n in Dublin, decided to translate Netscape Communicator into Catalan.
- 34. Almost from scratch, a terminolgy compendium and a style guide were created. Based upon references from journalism and other fields and adapted to computer's world.
- 35. Now Softcatal collaborates with official terminological academies and several administrations.
- 36. Translation guidelines are a reference for professional translators.
- 37. Softcatal Tools we use for communicating (work is mainly virtual) Wiki
- 38. Mailing lists
- 39. IRC chats and IM
- 40. Translation tools and references
- 41. Specific software. Ex. PoEdit for Gettext translations or web interfaces
- 42. Translation memories from our projects Web based one: http://www.open-tran.eu Reference documents (terminology and style guide)
- 43. Narro project Help Romanian presence in FOSS http://narro-project.blogspot.com/ Ease translation through a web interface Romanian based project used by other localisations as well
- 44. mozilla.ro http://www.mozilla.ro Any doubt about Mozilla applications? You can be answered in your own language You can help other Romanians to spread FOSS in your city. You can share knowledge and know many new things about Mozilla pioneering web technology
- 45. support.mozilla.com Do you think you are proficient enough in English and Romanian? Do you want to practise your language skills? Do you want to help your family and friends to use Internet? Do it by translating Firefox documentation into Romanian.