Translating Loomio
Guide for people wanting to translate the Loomio user interface into another language.
You’re here because you want to learn how to translate Loomio. Yay!
If you have questions, please join the Loomio Community - Translation group.
We use Transifex
We use Transifex to manage our translation process (an excellent service that’s free for open-source projects).
Sign up to Transifex
Visit the Loomio Transifex page. Click the blue button: “Help Translate Loomio” then ask to join a translation.
The basics
Visit the Loomio Transifex page, and select your language
Select the resource you want to translate
Client is the front end code that your browser runs.
Server is the backend server code, which is mostly notification emails.
Marketing is the loomio.org front page which explains Loomio to the world.
Click ‘Translate’
4. - click on a phrases - read the english text - enter your translation - save and repeat
Please use the informal or personal form if your language has the option.
Guidelines
If your language distinguishes between personal and impersonal, use the more personal!
Make sure that you understand the different type of polls and activities that groups can do and that these are translated in way that is logical in your language.
Bear in mind the hyperlinks! The can be moved depending on the sentence structure of your language, so put them in place where you think it makes sense, not where they are placed in English.
How to correctly translate code:
When you combine a translation string with some personal data you get something the user will understand. To make this work there are little bits of code within translation strings. It’ takes a little practice to learn how to work with them.
HTML tags:
<h2>, <p>, and <a> are html tags which describe if text is a heading, paragraph, link, and so on. There are often matching </h2>, </p>, and </a> codes.
Example of translating with html tags in place:
English
This poll has closed. <strong>Share the outcome</strong> with the group.
Spanish
Esta encuesta ha cerrado. <strong>Comparte el resultado</strong> con el grupo.
Interpolation
There are two kinds of interpolation used in our strings:
Example 1
English
{% raw %}
Started by {{name}}
{% endraw %}
Spanish
{% raw %}
Iniciado por {{name}}
{% endraw %}
Example 2
English
Your request to join %{group_name} has been approved
Spanish
Tu solicitud para unirte a %{group_name} ha sido aprobada.
Putting it all together - a complex example
English (source)
{% raw %}
<strong><a href='u/{{username}}'>{{author}}</a></strong> in reply to <strong>{{title}}</strong>
{% endraw %}
Spanish (translated)
{% raw %}
<strong><a href='u/{{username}}'>{{author}}</a></strong> en respuesta a <strong>{{title}}</strong>
{% endraw %}
Working within a community of translators
As you translate, you might encounter questions like: - should this use formal/ informal language ? - who should I check this translation with ?
In a lot of cases, it’s best to work through these challenges with other translators in your language.
Feel free to bring these questions up in the Loomio Community - Translation group.
Improving processes, giving feedback
If you would like to suggest an improvement, or have some feedback on the translation process, please feel free to start a discussion in the Loomio Community - Translation, or email Rob rob@loomio.org
Links