[glob2-devel] Translation

[Federico P]

hi,
since i'm unable to join anything serious in this game, i just peeked about 
italian translation.
I went to translation page on wiki: 
http://globulation2.org/wiki/Translation_guide

1) Quote:
"If you want to translate the tutorial, please download tutorial.sgsl from 
Mercurial. Inside it, there is a special print function that takes a language 
code (such as en, de, ...) as second argument."

Whatever doings that .sgsl, the link is broken. Anyway wasn't clear to me the 
purpose of that file.

2) Quote:
First of all you have to understand that in the data/ directory. There are 
many "texts.*.txt" files, two of them in particular are: 
./data/texts.list.txt

This file doesn't exist anymore in mercurial sources. Giszmo told me that is 
enough to open texts.it.txt and fill lines with translation (with a look on 
texts.en.txt file because not everything is a translation, like entries such 
this [barracks explanation] where have to fill with a translation from en.txt 
file.
Also, explain may be splitted into many entries, like this:

123 [barracks explanation 2]
124 level of your warriors
125 [barracks explanation]
126 Improves the fighting

(the number is line number, thank Kate!! :D)
which means "Improves the fighting level of your warriors"
and needs a sentence translation which may differ from a single-entry 
translation.
***** I said this (y i know you know) just because this must be written in 
wiki page.. wtf !!

Anyway, this entry in italian file was wrong:

[barracks explanation 2]
nemiche nelle vicinanze
[barracks explanation]
Migliora il livello di

this means 
barrack 1 -> "improves level of"
barrack 2 -> "enemy near"

Probably some entries has been fucked while adapting them to new versions. In 
fact that [barracks explanation 2] translation may be a piece of a different 
entry, like "enemy unit are near you base" or so.

3) Try to compare english (or german) file with italian, from line 137 until 
end they differs:
eng:
135 [build %0 level %1]
136 Construct %0 Level %1
137 [Build]
138 Build

it:
135 [build %0 level %1]
136
137 [build barracks level 0]
138 Costruisci caserma liv. 0

Somehow this file has been broken. Tomorrow (or day after) i will check if 
there are only some lines missing or there are many break, causing a 
translation from scratch.
Italian file got 1223 lines, while english got 1164...
Just for comparation, i opened german file and it got 1163 lines, but last 
entries are equal than eng. Probably one has just been lost somewhere ^_^
In italian file i see that some entries are missing (even if file is much 
longer), like last one --> [no fullscreen] 

4) We should also clear some points, to make a new functional Translation 
page. Example:
(quote: Giszmo) "Names shouldn't be translated" :
I asked for this about AIReachToInfinity

(quote: Giszmo) "Take care in your language of formal and informal "you" " : 
Italian and german are quite similar, we both got one word for 2' pers 
singular and one different for polite talk which is same as the 3' pers female
ger: du / Sie
ita:  tu / Lei
As for game i think the informal way fits better the "you" meaning.. you don't 
want to scare 13' year old players from ita/ger, no? :P

***** I bet there are many more questions to get a standard translation 
operational mode (also to get a functional wiki page), i just throw the first 
rock ;) I will ask more when i meet them.

4) There is a way to test translations?
Since it's very important to see effects of translated message, it would be 
usefull to find where an entry is shown. I doubt i will ever see and check with 
accuracy 1164/2 = 582 translated messages while playing, specially if got 
doubt just for some (like word "briefing".. tbh translation may be different in 
context.. like italian word for Istructions, Objectives, or just Mission)

5) As far i understood, translation file doesn't include default campaigns (ie 
Tutorials). I was happy to play glob2 stable in italian, but tutorials was 
sadly in english. Who don't like to play in english due to a personal limit, 
will not understand tutorials at all, which are fundamental to enjoi the game.

6) When possible, consider a language translation "covered" when at least 2 
guys offers for it to check errors or find best translation. I doubt there are 
many with univeristy degree in languages that join translation work ;)
There can be a list of who is taking care of each supported language since 
this work can be done in some intensive days or slower with a lower work, in 
time to join a new stable release. Keepin track of who assumes this role 
wouldn't be hard, and someone could officially refuse to continue mantaining a 
language and let you put a "wanted translator for [language]" on glob main 
page with good enough visibility. An official list of translation contributors 
with email also helps for suggestions by generic player.


Let me know what you think about 
-fede

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