[FM Discuss] back from wikimania

[adam hyde]

> 
> In the Dutch case, as I'm sure you're aware, the vast majority of Dutch 
> internet users already speak quite good English (better than some of my 
> American countrymen, really), and the biggest problem they're likely to 
> face in using free software is that manuals aren't available in *any* 
> language they speak. If someone whose native tongue is Dutch but who 
> also speaks English wants to use software A and B, and A has only an 
> English manual while B has no manual, then their most pressing concern 
> is most likely to be how to use B---not how to translate the manual for 
> A into Dutch, since they can already read it. A similar problem exists 
> in Hindi---although there are very many non-English-speaking Hindi 
> speakers, almost all Hindi *internet* users speak fluent English, 
> because English is the language of the elite classes in India and the 
> medium of instruction in the top universities (the IITs). This is the 
> major reason the Hindi Wikipedia is largely inactive.


its an interesting one. 6 weeks ago I would have agreed with you. I
don't know anyone that uses a dutch OS, and most are very happy with the
english version as the translation of some interface items into dutch is
seen as 'klunky'... However recently I had to rethink this when Gale
Andrews from the Audacity doc team was very happy to link to the dutch
version of the audacity manual as they get asked a lot for a dutch
manual. I can see how this might make sense. Having an interface in .en
is one thing...but having concepts explained in your own language is
going to guarantee a much better knowledge transferal. For example, a
'quick guide' to how to record audio in english is probably ok for the
average dutch computer user, but explaining 'digital audio' is always
going to be better if its done in a native tongue...i'm only a guess
here so i'm a bit nervous to stand too steadfastly behind this issue
without hearing it first hand

I know you are very experienced with the language issues so I am now
back to ponder mode...hmmm....

> Anyway that probably sounds a bit rant-ish, but I've hung around the 
> Wikipedia discussions around language far too much. That doesn't mean 
> there's no need for non-English documentation, but I think it'd be best 
> at least initially to stick to languages where there is a large and 
> active community of primarily monolingual internet users, like German 
> and Portuguese, who could serve as both authors and readers of the 
> documentation.

perhaps one way of dealing with it is we just work with however is keen
to go through the 'franchise' process...that puts in a bit of a filter,
and they have to be pretty sure they are really doing something
worthwhile before they embark on it...

adam


> 
> -Mark
> 
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-- 


adam hyde
floss manuals

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