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 will gradually become able to speak many languages.
7 A few packages already provide translations for their messages.
9 If you found this `ABOUT-NLS' file inside a distribution, you may
10 assume that the distributed package does use GNU `gettext' internally,
11 itself available at your nearest GNU archive site. But you do _not_
12 need to install GNU `gettext' prior to configuring, installing or using
13 this package with messages translated.
15 Installers will find here some useful hints. These notes also
16 explain how users should proceed for getting the programs to use the
17 available translations. They tell how people wanting to contribute and
18 work at translations should contact the appropriate team.
20 When reporting bugs in the `intl/' directory or bugs which may be
21 related to internationalization, you should tell about the version of
22 `gettext' which is used. The information can be found in the
23 `intl/VERSION' file, in internationalized packages.
25 Quick configuration advice
26 ==========================
28 If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
29 should configure it using
31 ./configure --with-included-gettext
33 to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
34 package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
35 operating system where this package is being installed. So far, only
36 the `gettext' implementation in the GNU C library version 2 provides as
37 many features (such as locale alias, message inheritance, automatic
38 charset conversion or plural form handling) as the implementation here.
39 It is also not possible to offer this additional functionality on top
40 of a `catgets' implementation. Future versions of GNU `gettext' will
41 very likely convey even more functionality. So it might be a good idea
42 to change to GNU `gettext' as soon as possible.
44 So you need _not_ provide this option if you are using GNU libc 2 or
45 you have installed a recent copy of the GNU gettext package with the
51 Some packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the programs
52 they contain can be made to speak your own native language. Most such
53 packages use GNU `gettext'. Other packages have their own ways to
54 internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
56 By default, this package will be installed to allow translation of
57 messages. It will automatically detect whether the system already
58 provides the GNU `gettext' functions. If not, the GNU `gettext' own
59 library will be used. This library is wholly contained within this
60 package, usually in the `intl/' subdirectory, so prior installation of
61 the GNU `gettext' package is _not_ required. Installers may use
62 special options at configuration time for changing the default
63 behaviour. The commands:
65 ./configure --with-included-gettext
66 ./configure --disable-nls
68 will respectively bypass any pre-existing `gettext' to use the
69 internationalizing routines provided within this package, or else,
70 _totally_ disable translation of messages.
72 When you already have GNU `gettext' installed on your system and run
73 configure without an option for your new package, `configure' will
74 probably detect the previously built and installed `libintl.a' file and
75 will decide to use this. This might be not what is desirable. You
76 should use the more recent version of the GNU `gettext' library. I.e.
77 if the file `intl/VERSION' shows that the library which comes with this
78 package is more recent, you should use
80 ./configure --with-included-gettext
82 to prevent auto-detection.
84 The configuration process will not test for the `catgets' function
85 and therefore it will not be used. The reason is that even an
86 emulation of `gettext' on top of `catgets' could not provide all the
87 extensions of the GNU `gettext' library.
89 Internationalized packages have usually many `po/LL.po' files, where
90 LL gives an ISO 639 two-letter code identifying the language. Unless
91 translations have been forbidden at `configure' time by using the
92 `--disable-nls' switch, all available translations are installed
93 together with the package. However, the environment variable `LINGUAS'
94 may be set, prior to configuration, to limit the installed set.
95 `LINGUAS' should then contain a space separated list of two-letter
96 codes, stating which languages are allowed.
101 As a user, if your language has been installed for this package, you
102 only have to set the `LANG' environment variable to the appropriate
103 `LL_CC' combination. Here `LL' is an ISO 639 two-letter language code,
104 and `CC' is an ISO 3166 two-letter country code. For example, let's
105 suppose that you speak German and live in Germany. At the shell
106 prompt, merely execute `setenv LANG de_DE' (in `csh'),
107 `export LANG; LANG=de_DE' (in `sh') or `export LANG=de_DE' (in `bash').
108 This can be done from your `.login' or `.profile' file, once and for
111 You might think that the country code specification is redundant.
112 But in fact, some languages have dialects in different countries. For
113 example, `de_AT' is used for Austria, and `pt_BR' for Brazil. The
114 country code serves to distinguish the dialects.
116 The locale naming convention of `LL_CC', with `LL' denoting the
117 language and `CC' denoting the country, is the one use on systems based
118 on GNU libc. On other systems, some variations of this scheme are
119 used, such as `LL' or `LL_CC.ENCODING'. You can get the list of
120 locales supported by your system for your country by running the command
121 `locale -a | grep '^LL''.
123 Not all programs have translations for all languages. By default, an
124 English message is shown in place of a nonexistent translation. If you
125 understand other languages, you can set up a priority list of languages.
126 This is done through a different environment variable, called
127 `LANGUAGE'. GNU `gettext' gives preference to `LANGUAGE' over `LANG'
128 for the purpose of message handling, but you still need to have `LANG'
129 set to the primary language; this is required by other parts of the
130 system libraries. For example, some Swedish users who would rather
131 read translations in German than English for when Swedish is not
132 available, set `LANGUAGE' to `sv:de' while leaving `LANG' to `sv_SE'.
134 In the `LANGUAGE' environment variable, but not in the `LANG'
135 environment variable, `LL_CC' combinations can be abbreviated as `LL'
136 to denote the language's main dialect. For example, `de' is equivalent
137 to `de_DE' (German as spoken in Germany), and `pt' to `pt_PT'
138 (Portuguese as spoken in Portugal) in this context.
143 For the Free Translation Project to be a success, we need interested
144 people who like their own language and write it well, and who are also
145 able to synergize with other translators speaking the same language.
146 Each translation team has its own mailing list. The up-to-date list of
147 teams can be found at the Free Translation Project's homepage,
148 `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/', in the "National teams"
151 If you'd like to volunteer to _work_ at translating messages, you
152 should become a member of the translating team for your own language.
153 The subscribing address is _not_ the same as the list itself, it has
154 `-request' appended. For example, speakers of Swedish can send a
155 message to `sv-request@li.org', having this message body:
159 Keep in mind that team members are expected to participate
160 _actively_ in translations, or at solving translational difficulties,
161 rather than merely lurking around. If your team does not exist yet and
162 you want to start one, or if you are unsure about what to do or how to
163 get started, please write to `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to reach the
164 coordinator for all translator teams.
166 The English team is special. It works at improving and uniformizing
167 the terminology in use. Proven linguistic skill are praised more than
168 programming skill, here.
173 Languages are not equally supported in all packages. The following
174 matrix shows the current state of internationalization, as of November
175 2003. The matrix shows, in regard of each package, for which languages
176 PO files have been submitted to translation coordination, with a
177 translation percentage of at least 50%.
179 Ready PO files am az be bg ca cs da de el en en_GB eo es
180 +-------------------------------------------+
194 coreutils | [] [] [] [] |
196 darkstat | [] () [] |
197 diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
199 enscript | [] [] [] [] |
200 error | [] [] [] [] [] |
201 fetchmail | [] () [] [] [] [] |
202 fileutils | [] [] [] |
203 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
211 gettext | [] [] [] [] [] |
212 gettext-examples | [] [] [] |
213 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] |
214 gettext-tools | [] [] [] |
215 gimp-print | [] [] [] [] [] |
217 glunarclock | [] [] [] |
219 gnucash | [] () [] [] |
220 gnucash-glossary | [] () [] |
221 gnupg | [] () [] [] [] [] |
224 gpe-calendar | [] [] |
227 gpe-contacts | [] [] |
231 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] |
232 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] |
234 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] |
238 gphoto2 | [] [] [] [] |
240 gpsdrive | () () () |
242 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
245 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
247 indent | [] [] [] [] |
251 kbd | [] [] [] [] [] |
254 libc | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
255 libgpewidget | [] [] |
256 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] |
260 lingoteach_lessons | () () |
265 man-db | [] () [] [] () |
267 mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
268 nano | [] () [] [] [] |
269 nano_1_0 | [] () [] [] [] |
271 parted | [] [] [] [] [] |
272 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] |
275 recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
277 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
278 sed | [] [] [] [] [] |
279 sh-utils | [] [] [] |
281 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
283 soundtracker | [] [] [] |
287 textutils | [] [] [] [] |
289 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
290 util-linux | [] [] [] [] [] |
291 vorbis-tools | [] [] [] [] |
293 wdiff | [] [] [] [] |
294 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
295 xchat | [] [] [] [] |
296 xfree86_xkb_xml | [] |
298 +-------------------------------------------+
299 am az be bg ca cs da de el en en_GB eo es
300 0 1 8 3 37 37 54 73 15 1 5 12 62
302 et fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it ja
303 +----------------------------------------+
313 bison | [] [] [] [] |
314 bluez-pin | [] [] [] [] [] |
317 coreutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
319 darkstat | () [] [] [] |
320 diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
323 error | [] [] [] [] |
325 fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
326 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
335 gettext-examples | [] [] |
336 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] |
337 gettext-tools | [] [] |
340 glunarclock | [] [] [] [] [] |
343 gnucash-glossary | [] |
344 gnupg | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
347 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] |
350 gpe-contacts | [] [] |
354 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] |
355 gpe-sketchbook | [] |
357 gpe-taskmanager | [] |
358 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] |
363 gpsdrive | () [] () () |
365 grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
368 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
369 id-utils | [] [] [] [] |
370 indent | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
373 jwhois | [] [] [] [] |
377 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
378 libgpewidget | [] [] [] [] |
379 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
383 lingoteach_lessons | |
387 make | [] [] [] [] [] |
389 minicom | [] [] [] [] |
390 mysecretdiary | [] [] |
392 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] |
395 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
398 recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
401 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
402 sh-utils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
403 shared-mime-info | [] |
404 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
406 soundtracker | [] [] [] [] |
408 tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
409 texinfo | [] [] [] [] |
410 textutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
412 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
413 util-linux | [] [] [] [] () [] |
416 wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
417 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
421 +----------------------------------------+
422 et fa fi fr ga gl he hr hu id is it ja
423 21 1 24 84 24 24 8 10 38 31 1 22 33
425 ko lg lt lv ms nb nl nn no pl pt pt_BR ro
426 +-------------------------------------------+
427 a2ps | () [] [] () () [] [] |
430 anubis | [] [] [] [] [] |
431 ap-utils | [] () [] |
436 bison | [] [] [] [] |
437 bluez-pin | [] [] [] |
441 cpio | [] [] [] [] [] |
442 darkstat | [] [] [] [] |
443 diffutils | [] [] [] [] |
445 enscript | [] [] [] |
447 fetchmail | [] [] () |
449 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
458 gettext-examples | [] [] |
459 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] |
460 gettext-tools | [] [] [] |
463 glunarclock | [] [] [] |
466 gnucash-glossary | [] [] |
468 gpe-aerial | [] [] [] |
469 gpe-beam | [] [] [] |
470 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] |
471 gpe-clock | [] [] [] |
472 gpe-conf | [] [] [] |
473 gpe-contacts | [] [] [] |
474 gpe-edit | [] [] [] |
476 gpe-login | [] [] [] |
477 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] |
478 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] [] |
480 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] |
481 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] |
482 gpe-today | [] [] [] |
483 gpe-todo | [] [] [] |
486 gpsdrive | () () () [] |
491 hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
492 id-utils | [] [] [] |
496 jwhois | [] [] [] [] |
500 libc | [] [] [] [] [] |
501 libgpewidget | [] [] [] |
502 libiconv | [] [] [] [] |
506 lingoteach_lessons | |
513 mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
515 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] [] |
517 parted | [] [] [] [] |
518 ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
523 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] |
526 shared-mime-info | [] |
531 tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
535 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
537 vorbis-tools | [] [] |
539 wdiff | [] [] [] [] |
542 xfree86_xkb_xml | [] |
544 +-------------------------------------------+
545 ko lg lt lv ms nb nl nn no pl pt pt_BR ro
546 11 0 1 2 12 10 60 4 4 38 23 34 74
548 ru sk sl sr sv ta tr uk vi wa zh_CN zh_TW
549 +-------------------------------------------+
550 a2ps | [] [] [] [] [] | 16
553 anubis | [] [] [] | 9
558 binutils | [] [] [] | 7
559 bison | [] [] [] | 14
560 bluez-pin | [] [] [] | 13
563 coreutils | [] [] [] [] [] | 16
565 darkstat | [] [] [] () () | 12
566 diffutils | [] [] [] [] | 22
567 e2fsprogs | [] [] | 5
568 enscript | [] [] [] | 12
569 error | [] [] [] | 15
570 fetchmail | [] [] [] | 11
571 fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 16
572 findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 29
580 gettext | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 16
581 gettext-examples | [] [] | 9
582 gettext-runtime | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 21
583 gettext-tools | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 14
584 gimp-print | [] [] | 10
586 glunarclock | [] [] [] [] | 15
588 gnucash | [] [] [] | 9
589 gnucash-glossary | [] [] [] | 8
590 gnupg | [] [] [] [] | 17
591 gpe-aerial | [] [] | 7
593 gpe-calendar | [] [] [] [] [] | 13
594 gpe-clock | [] [] [] | 9
595 gpe-conf | [] [] [] | 9
596 gpe-contacts | [] [] [] [] | 11
597 gpe-edit | [] [] [] [] [] | 11
599 gpe-login | [] [] [] [] [] | 12
600 gpe-ownerinfo | [] [] [] [] | 12
601 gpe-sketchbook | [] [] [] | 9
602 gpe-su | [] [] [] | 9
603 gpe-taskmanager | [] [] [] | 9
604 gpe-timesheet | [] [] [] [] | 11
605 gpe-today | [] [] [] [] [] | 12
606 gpe-todo | [] [] [] [] [] | 12
607 gphoto2 | [] [] [] | 11
611 grep | [] [] [] [] [] | 26
614 hello | [] [] [] [] [] | 33
615 id-utils | [] [] [] | 12
616 indent | [] [] [] [] [] | 21
617 jpilot | [] [] [] [] [] | 9
619 jwhois | () () [] [] | 11
623 libc | [] [] [] [] | 20
624 libgpewidget | [] [] [] | 12
625 libiconv | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 27
629 lingoteach_lessons | () | 0
630 lynx | [] [] [] [] | 14
633 make | [] [] [] [] | 16
636 mysecretdiary | [] [] | 10
637 nano | [] [] [] [] [] | 17
638 nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] | 17
640 parted | [] [] [] | 15
644 recode | [] [] [] [] | 20
646 scrollkeeper | [] [] [] [] | 15
647 sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 23
648 sh-utils | [] [] [] | 14
649 shared-mime-info | [] [] | 4
650 sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] | 17
652 soundtracker | [] [] | 9
654 tar | [] [] [] [] [] | 24
655 texinfo | [] [] [] [] | 14
656 textutils | [] [] [] [] [] | 16
658 tuxpaint | [] [] [] [] [] | 29
659 util-linux | [] [] [] | 15
660 vorbis-tools | [] | 8
662 wdiff | [] [] [] [] | 18
663 wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 23
664 xchat | [] [] [] [] [] | 14
665 xfree86_xkb_xml | [] [] [] [] | 6
667 +-------------------------------------------+
668 51 teams ru sk sl sr sv ta tr uk vi wa zh_CN zh_TW
669 117 domains 58 41 16 16 78 0 53 12 1 10 21 22 1230
671 Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
672 visible blocks let us expect. This is because a few extra PO files are
673 used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
676 For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
677 which it applies should also have been internationalized and
678 distributed as such by its maintainer. There might be an observable
679 lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
682 If November 2003 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy
683 of this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites. The most
684 up-to-date matrix with full percentage details can be found at
685 `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
687 Using `gettext' in new packages
688 ===============================
690 If you are writing a freely available program and want to
691 internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
692 package. Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
693 License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library. This means
694 in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
695 library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
696 library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
698 Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
699 the use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations. The
700 Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
701 developed inside the GNU project. Therefore the information given above
702 applies also for every other Free Software Project. Contact
703 `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
704 the translation teams.