[Bug 472668] [NEW] bad diction in english original makes translation difficult or impossible

[Steffen Eibicht]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: kubuntu-docs

The english texts in Kubuntu-docs have sometimes really bad diction
which makes translation into german (and I am sure into any other
language) nearly impossible.

Example:

»You may also wish to increase the number of programs available to
install through your package managers. Not all the programs that exist
for Kubuntu are installed by default.«

which is in the middle of nowhere in between a description of package managers. What does it mean? Does it mean that the user can increase the number of installable packages by using a package manager? Or does it mean that a user can increase the number of available packages if he wants? Or does it maybe mean something else I am not aware of?
The diction itself requires heavy changes on the context, to get a satisfying result in german. Additional the diction is not clear cut (what does it mean?). So the result is awful in german.

This is just a single and simple example of one english text which is dicted in a bad way. Surely there are many more texts which are dicted worse than that. 
So please guys, be a bit thoughtful about the translators and formulate the texts a bit nicer in more commonly used words, avoid involved periods (which is a big problem too in Kubuntu-Docs) and follow the guidelines on help-texts. 

Another problem is the always repeated description to the user how to
start/open a certain application.

Example:

»Software Management is launched through the Kickoff Application
Launcher at <menuchoice><guimenu>Kickoff Application
Launcher</guimenu><guisubmenu>Applications</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>System</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Software
Management (KPackageKit)</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.«

in the above text you see the description (between <menuchoice> and </menuchoice>). This is the first description in the help-text. In the following strings which describe tasks, involving the package manager, there is always repeatedly described how to open the package Manager. This is not necessary as for example the Ubuntu-docs show. It is also annoying to read for the user. And it is annoying and frustrating for the translator.
So please do not repeat the steps for opening/ starting applications resp. files over and over. 

Thanks and best regards
Steffen

** Affects: kubuntu-docs (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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bad diction in english original makes translation difficult or impossible
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/472668
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