Hi Martin and the others,
if you feel that this is too off-topic, yell Stop!
Maybe you wanted to say that many Europeans speak English so well,
that they do not need translations?
It is my observation as well: Some users are hostile towards the
notion of translated software.
Well, I have a local language Netscape, ThumbsPlus, WinCommander
accompanied by many English language programs like PSP.
And most of the people I know are the same.
Maybe (also) a Windows/Unix difference?
Those are typically not native English
speakers,
Of course not, as these have -most of the time-
a program in their language.
but people who found, at one time or the other, reason to
complain about translations. They do so for all operating systems,
making fun of erroneous translations (such as the infamous Pfeife
zerbrochen of SINIX, or translations that an MS employee came up
with).
IMO, a bad translation is only useful, if I speak the original
language even worse. I'd rather stick to a precise Oxford English than
a German Kauderwelsch created by BabelFish (TM).
Unfortunately (I think), those people then come to the conclusion that
translations, in general, suck, where I feel that the right conclusion
should have been that translations, like all other parts of software,
may have bugs that need to be reported and fixed.
Agreed, these bugs need reporting, !and! fixing.
However, IMO, the time spent for fixing translations is better used for
fixing bugs concerning the program and adding new features.
Of course I would talk differently if there was a really cool program
in Kisuaheli. So I am aware of the weaknesses in my argumentation.
Those people ignore
that many other people have less problems using computers if the
computers complain in their native tongue. Unfortunately, again, the
group complaining about translations is often more vocal about it.
As long as I have the choice, I will certainly not complain.
And if a translation makes working easier for other people,
they should have the possibility to do so.
My point is, that _I_ find it easier to use a manual/prog in good
English than in bad German.
(And, to admit it, I rarely take the time to report translation bugs...)
I don't know whether this is a European phenomenon only, or whether
people in other continents develop the same dislike towards their own
language when interacting with computers.
I can really not relate to this very much. Germany for exapmple
is one of very few countries, where movies get translated, not with
subtitles, but with lip-syncing. So why the supposedly
different attitude when computers are involved?
The only reason I can think of is that they think the same way as me:
Better download the good English version and
not the localized package with content I do not know the quality of.
Most certainly, native
English speakers are neutral towards translations, since they don't
need them and can't comment on their quality and usefulness.
Well, only because most programs are available in English,
that does not mean that native English speakers
do not need translations... ;
CU
Jens
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