Re: [Gaim-i18n] Untranslatable string "Title"

[Gabor K. <kel...@gn...>]

Richard Laager =EDrta:
> On Tue, 2006-10-24 at 23:49 -0400, Ambrose LI wrote:
>  =20
>> Right now, this string cannot be translated into Chinese because "titl=
e" of a column in a list (gntstatus.c, gtksavedstatuses.c) is a completel=
y different word than "title" of a person (jabber/buddy.c, novell.c).
>>    =20
>
>  =20
>> Can something be done to disambiguate the two?
>>    =20
>
> glib's gettext, which we're using, uses the Q_() macro to do this:
> http://developer.gnome.org/doc/API/2.0/glib/glib-I18N.html#id2727054
>
> However, this thread has some interesting points:
> http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gtk-devel-list/2005-December/msg00255.ht=
ml
>
> However, my system (Ubuntu Dapper) doesn't have a pgettext() that I can
> find. Has the latter solution actually be implemented yet?
>
> Translators: What is your take on this? Which format would work best fo=
r
> your tools?
>
>  =20
According to the NEWS file of the gettext package, this functionality=20
has been implemented in version 0.15.
Only problem can be it's availability in major distributions,=20
Distrowatch says it's available only in the most current versions.
However, as a translator, i think the gettext functions are the best=20
solution (and not the ugly hacks like glib's Q macro or custom made=20
implementations), as gettext-based translation support systems, like=20
KBabel, Launchpad's Rosetta or Pootle will provide proper support for thi=
s.
Another argument against custom made hacks is the lesson of the=20
widespread usage of the Q macro in Gnome: programmers can't expect that=20
translators will completely understand the meaning and correct usage of=20
in-message context information - they will not:

http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-i18n/2006-March/msg00370.html
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-i18n/2006-September/msg00138.html


Regards,

Gabor Kelemen