Hi Tamblyne!

[snip]


>
>First of all, I agree with Andrew that a simpler label for this aspect
>of the site would be a good idea -- if the whole point is to increase
>usability by considering the "lowest common denominator", I should
>think the ultimate "lowest common denominator" would be a user who
>arrives at the site and doesn't speak English in the first place.  If
>*I* visit a site that isn't in English, the first thing I do is look
>at the top of the page for the link or reference to "English" -- and
>it's usually easy to find because there are only two or three
>available languages, with a separate link for each.

true...

>
>In the case of the OOo site, with so many Native Language projects,
>the drop down list makes sense, but it also means that the "pointer"
>to that list needs to be as clear as possible so that people can
>recognize it as what they are looking for.

Sadly, I can't for think of any universal pointer. 
>
>A secondary related issue is the fact that not all translations have a
>corresponding Native Language Project -- a case in point being Polish
>-- so the language isn't listed in the drop down on the "front page"
>-- you have to actually get to the download page to find it.  I don't
>know that this can be labeled as a "problem", as the only reference I
>have is the number and frequency of inquiries to the users list
>looking for a particular translation -- maybe one or two a month that
>I have noticed. 
> But I do think that the difference between a "native language 
>project" and a "translation" is something to be considered in light of
>this major re-working of the home page.

That's so. I list only those that have some sort of community, ideally a
NLC, on the homepage.  I prefer  "language communities," though it has
its own problems, but OOo in your language is also apt.  It's just
wordy.  
>
>Tam
>
But the language for the NLC groups is not really crucial; in fact,
nearly all the links are, as has been pointed out, fairly manipulable.
What is more important is creating a layout that points visitors to
where we think they should go--to download OOo, to find information
about OOo, to get support, to join, whatever.  

Cheers
Louis

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