Translation Tricks and Traps

[helmut]

In this topic we can gather tricks and hints which may help other translators.

- Hint: Similar translation
The translation of XnView MP should be as close to the XnView (Windows) as possible, see topic 'Translation of XnView MP = XnView Windows?'
To achieve this, please
- install XnView (Windows) for comparing
- contact Pierre and ask him for the XnView header files of the Windows version with the translation in your language. In the header files you can lookup existing translations and just copy/paste them into QtLinguist.

- Trap: Double meaning of 'Shortcut'
Short cut -> Symbol link to a file vs. Keyboard shortcut

[helmut]

- Hint: Metric system versus "Inch" system
In many counries, the metric system is valid. In those countries, the metric values should be mentioned first, then the value of the inch system. In "Inch" based countries (e.g. Great Britain), the "Inch" values should be mentioned first.

Example:
- Photo 3x6 Inch (10x15cm) in "Inch" countries/languages
- Photo 10x15cm (3x6 Inch) in Metric countries/languages.

Naturally, languages do not map 1:1 to countries, so decide yourself...

[helmut]

- Singular and Plural translation
Some few strings in XnConvert require a singular and plural translation (e.g. second, seconds). Please remember to fill out both singular and plural translation.

EDIT: Just noticed that Qt Linguist shows an exclamation mark if plural translation is missing.

[helmut]

For a good translation it's important to know the context of the string, i.e. the appropriate dialog. Here's a tip to find out about the context.

Linguist, the translation tool helps to find out about the context. When possible, Linguist displays the dialog (form) in the 'Sources and Forms' pane if possible.

For some strings Linguist displays just a message "File C:/Programme/XnViewMP-translation 0.61/DlgEmail.h not available". The displayed message still gives an indication of the context, in this case it's 'DlgEmail' which is the dialog for sending images via e-mail.

Sometimes, the 'Sources and Forms' pane is just left blank. In this case the 'Context' pane is helpful: The appropriate context entrey is selected and greyed but a bit hard to see. To make it much easier to see click on the slide bar of the scroll bar of the Context pane. The selected context entry is clearly shown (here: DlgFilter):

Linguist-Finding_out_context.png

[helmut]

Peter pointed to a very good style guide with tips for individual languages:

... I contributed to translation of another software and had the same problem. You could take a look here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/globalizati ... yle-guides

[helmut]

If you wonder (like me) what "Zealous crop" is and how this could be translated, this link might help:
https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/plug-in-zealouscrop.html

By replacing "en" in the URL by your two letter country code you might even find a translation. E.g. for Russian ("ru")
https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/ru/plug-in-zealouscrop.html : Усердное кадрирование