From: Dwayne Bailey <dwayne@obsidian.co.za> To: <lwn@lwn.net> Subject: Translate.org.za Project newsletter Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 12:38:36 +0200 (SAST) Translate.org.za is a project to translate computer software into the eleven official languages of South Africa. Current languages include Xhosa and Zulu. Visit http://www.translate.org.za for more details. If you do not wish to receive our project updates then please send an email to announce-unsubscribe@translate.org.za. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends. You can subscribe to this newsletter by sending an email to announce-subscribe@translate.org.za --------------------------------------------------------------------------- News Headlines ============== o Plans for 2002 o Progress on Mozilla translations o KDE 3.0 beta1 released o Recruitment drive o Zulu translation begins Plans for 2002 ============== In brief our main aims for 2002 are to: - Get translators for every language - Release a South African version of the Mozilla browser containing all 11 official languages - Continue translation work on KDE hopefully having all languages included by the end of 2002 - Begin work on the OpenOffice suite Progress on Mozilla translations ================================ The Mozilla web-browser has shifted to be our most important target because of its cross-platform nature (runs on Windows, Linux and Mac) as well as the fact that it is easy to install and use as apposed to installing KDE and Linux. However progress has been slowed because Mozilla uses its own format to allow strings to be translated. One of the problems we have found is that our translators may be computer literate but are not guru computer users. We would like to prevent them having to learn how to use a different translation tool for each translation project. We also feel that the tools that are part of KDE are the best we have found. We have therefore standardised on the PO format used by the KDE project. Our programming volunteer, David Fraser, has been working on creating tools to allow Mozilla files to be converted to PO files. The added advantage of these tools is that they will be used when we start work on the OpenOffice project later this year. We hope to have the translation tools ready before the end of January to allow us to make good progress in translating Mozilla. KDE 3.0 Beta1 released ====================== The next generation of KDE was release on 19 December 2001. This version has a number of improvements and will include Zulu translations. The Xhosa translations of KDE 3.0 will be close to fully complete (some 20,000 plus strings). Well done to our translator, Antoinette Dekeni. We will also expand the current documentation to include manuals for many more applications. Recruitment Drive ================= We conducted a recruitment drive at the University of Cape Town which was very successful considering that it was conducted after final exams. We received enquiries from many interested people and a few fly-by-nights. This work netted or Zulu translator. We are in the process of conducting this campaign again at UCT and will expand it to other campuses in Cape Town. If you are able to hang posters in any other campuses in South Africa then please contact us and we will forward posters to you. Zulu translation begins ======================= Our Zulu translator, Thobile Mhlongo, started work on the Zulu version of KDE near the beginning of December. Work is progressing well and we are already tentatively part of the KDE 3.0 languages. We hope to have translated the most useful end-user components of KDE in time for release in late February. 2002 looks like a very exciting year for Translate.org.za - our targets cover the bulk of our project and we are working hard to meet them. Thank you to all our volunteers and thank you to all those who have offered support and encouragement. This project, I beleive, will make a dramatic impact on South Africans. If you can offer assistance then please contact us. Interesting links: http://www.linulab.org.za - an initiative to place Linux diskless labs in schools. http://www.tsf.org.za - The Shuttleworth Foundation. Producing the schooltool Opensource shool admin prject and assisting with funding for the translation project. -- Kind regards Dwayne Bailey Translate.org.za - Opensource software for all South Africans dwayne@translate.org.za +27-21-448 9265 (work) +27-21-448 9574 (fax) +27-83-443 7114 (cell)