Ubuntu Software Store: What it does, and how you can help

[Matthew Paul Thomas]

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Matthew East wrote on 28/08/09 11:44:
> 
> On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Matthew Paul Thomas
> <mpt at canonical.com> wrote:
>...
>> "Center" was unfortunately off-limits because it lacks cross-Atlantic
>> compatibility, i.e. it differs in US English vs. British English
>> spelling, and foreign spelling irritates people. ("Catalog" had the same
>> problem.)
> 
> I don't get that at all. "Center" appears elsewhere in our desktop
> ("Help Center")

As I suggested two years ago, "Ubuntu Help" would be quite enough for
that particular case. <http://launchpad.net/bugs/144787>

>                 and it is simply translated by the ubuntu-l10n-en-gb
> team to read "Centre" for those users who use that language.

While it is obvious to, for example, someone fluent only in Italian that
they should switch Ubuntu into Italian, it is not so obvious to someone
who is fluent only in UK English (or who is setting up a computer for
someone fluent only in UK English) that they should switch Ubuntu into
UK English.

The result is that some proportion of UK English speakers using Ubuntu
will inevitably use it in the US English locale. I am not suggesting
that words with different US English vs. UK English spellings should be
verboten in Ubuntu interface text. But where can easily avoid those
words in prominent places, like names of programs, we might as well.

> As Przemysław pointed out, "Store" is a hell of a lot more difficult
> to translate.
>...

I'm not a translator, but it's pretty obvious to me that you'll rarely
be able to capture every nuance of a brand name when translating it.
Instead, concentrate on choosing a name that is compelling in that
particular language. (And try not to infringe any trade marks.)

Cheers
- --
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/
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