Fwd: Launchpad feedback/feature requests

[Danilo Šegan]

Hi Noirin,

Yesterday at 21:21, Noirin Plunkett wrote:

> The big issue isn't so much that, as a translator, I don't understand
> the plural form(s) of my target language. It's just that I don't
> understand how I should know which form to use where. If I see "n==1",
> should I use singular? Or if I see "1"? Or if I see "n==1?" Or if I
> see "n==1?0"? Which of these will appear in the translation interface,
> what do I replace with the appropriate text?
> It's really pretty confusing!

This is used only in special cases where a message you are translating
includes a number variable.

Eg. something like "Loading %d files".  In such cases, you have to
provide all 3 forms for Irish, so that translation will work correctly
for any number.

See for example:

  https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/edgy/+source/gedit/+pots/gedit/ga/217/+translate

>>   1. When number is 1, use the first form
>>   2. When number is 2, use the second form
>>   3. Otherwise, use the first form
>
> Ok, for a start that seems wrong to me, linguistically - but if that's
> what gettext is specifying, fair enough. 

Christian is right here, 3 should be "third form" :)

> I think translators will be familiar with the various forms required
> for their languages, and when to use each form. There just needs to be
> a slightly more translator-friendly explanation =)

I think the example message above should be sufficient.  If not,
please ask for more clarifications.

> The issue is more making it clear how the forms are referenced in
> Rosetta, if that makes sense. How do I know where to put a singular,
> or where a plural?

That depends on the formula and language, so I am all for providing
textual descriptions as well.  For Irish, you'd put singular in the
field titled 'Current Irish[0]', dual into 'Current Irish[1]' and
plural into 'Current Irish[2]'.  Of course, this is valid only for
cases where you've got enough fields to put them in.


Cheers,
Danilo