[Bug 1317115] [NEW] KDE Locale module support for changing language is incomplete

[Tim Edwards]

Public bug reported:

The current Kubuntu method of installing support for new languages and
changing which language gets highest preference is broken because it
only affects KDE applications. The system language (as set by the LANG
and LANGUAGE environment variables) isn't changed, and the language
support for added languages is incomplete - for example missing
localisation packages for Firefox, Libreoffice and spell checkers, among
others.

This is a side-effect of the deprecation of the language-selector-kde
package, which used to give Kubuntu users the same fuctionality as
gnome-language-selector by creating an extra module in KDE System
Settings.

The missing functionality should be integrated into the KDE System
Settings Locale control module, as mentioned in this comment
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/language-
selector/+bug/1013626/comments/4

To reproduce:
1. Freshly installed Kubuntu 14.04 system. KDE System Settings->Locale->Language.
2. Add language (in my example German). Wait while Locale module installs the necessary packages.
3. Move language (German) to top of the priority list, above the default American English
4. Logout of KDE, log back in

Expected Results:
All necessary language files for both KDE applications (e.g. Dolphin) and non-KDE applications (e.g. Firefox, Libreoffice) is installed. All programs which have German translations available display in German. Environment variables are set so that command line programs also run in German (where translations available), eg:
tim at localhost:~$ ls notthere
ls: Zugriff auf notthere nicht möglich: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden

In short - the same effect you'd get by using gnome-language-selector

Actual Results:
Only the language of KDE applications is changed. Firefox, LIbreoffice, command line programs, bash environment vars, and all other programs remain in English. In other words you have a half-half system as far as language support is concerned.

Workaround:
sudo apt-get install gnome-language-selector
gnome-language-selector

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: kde-workspace 4:4.11.8-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Wed May  7 15:01:57 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-29 (7 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: kde-workspace
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: kde-workspace (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug trusty

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1317115

Title:
  KDE Locale module support for changing language is incomplete

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