Re: [Gaim-i18n] Bad language in Gaim

[Ethan B. <ebl...@cs...>]

Bjoern Voigt spake unto us the following wisdom:
> I found some i18n strings in Gaim which I don't like for different=20
> reasons. Of course I can write a patch which changes these strings. But=
=20
> I think it's better to change the strings after a voting from other=20
> translators.

Fortunately, "I don't like this string" is not sufficient reason to
change it, regardless of who 'votes' on it.

> Here are the strings which I don't like:
>=20
>=20
> #: ../src/gtkdialogs.c:100
> msgid "hacker and designated driver [lazy bum]"
> msgstr ""
>=20
> I think it's abusive to call the retired developer Syd Logan a "lazy=20
> bum". I think this not a humorous designation. The direct German=20
> translation "Hacker und selbsternannter F=FChrer [fauler Arsch]" sounds=
=20
> very bad. So I refuse to translate it directly anyway.
>=20
> Does anyone know, what Syd Logan did for the Gaim project?

This *is* humorous in English, and it is not particularly abusive.  If
your German translation sounds very bad, it is not a good translation.
"Lazy bum" is a rather mild insult in English, and the corresponding
translation should likewise be mild.

>=20
> #: ../plugins/psychic.c:60
> msgid "You feel a disturbance in the force..."
> msgstr ""
>=20
> This message is not bad language but it does not describe what's going=20
> on. I asked the developer (Christopher O'Brien) about what his string=20
> mean. He told me, that it means: "If a buddy begins to type a message to=
=20
> you a conversation window appears (with this message)". Unfortunately he=
=20
> does not want to change his string. So I need your votes.

This is a cultural reference which most people should get.  In
context, it *does* describe what is going on with sufficient detail.
This is also not critical functionality for Gaim (in fact, I would not
include this plugin at all).  Therefore, if Christopher likes this
string, it should stay -- regardless of "votes".  You should choose an
appropriate translation for it, and that's the end of that.

> #: ../src/gtkaccount.c:1297
> msgid "you can see the butterflies mating"
> msgstr ""
>=20
> This may be a funny message. But also it does say nothing. It has=20
> something to do with the proxy port option in the account dialogs. But I=
=20
> don't know the exact meaning.

Of your three points, this is the only one I can agree with.  This
message is mildly (if even) humorous, but not that great.  It also
will most likely *never* be seen by anyone (except translators), so
it's not really hurting anything ... but there's no need for it.
These actions don't do anything, so the precise meaning is not that
important for translation.  These strings should probably either be
removed or the translation markers removed (if we wish for them to
stay in an easter-eggish fashion).

Ethan

--=20
The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws [that have no remedy
for evils].  They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor
determined to commit crimes.
		-- Cesare Beccaria, "On Crimes and Punishments", 1764