Decided to be a bit more serious about the french translation since no one else wants to do it and since I decided that LAMS is the only LD thing that actually works :)
Thanks to the translation sever and the improved interface for searching (thanks !!!) I was able to get an almost acceptable french version done, but by that I just mean "usable" and not "perfect" ....
Anyhow, here is some first input after going quickly through all the tools in the translation server:
*** Bug ???
Q&A - after hitting the the Next button nothing happens in the Preview mode on the translation server. If this is true for a student user, this is a serious bug.
*** Missing labels:
- all of DIMDIM
- some default entries in several tools (e.g. in the resource, forum, survey). E.g. for LAMS 2.4 you might want to include labels for example entries.
*** Suggestions:
- Increase the size of the noticeboard editing window a bit (maybe 5 lines ?). I know that there is full screen button, but not always handy.
*** Questions about marks (lots of cultural issues involved too)
- Is a mark always a score or can it be like a grade ? (I decided to use "scores" for MCQ's and Q/A) and grades for the others, but I am not too happy with this. Anyhow, you should know that in some countries double or triple scales like in the US are rarely used (see next item).
- Marks (e.g. for the forum) are anglo-centric. E.g. in Germany or Switzerland you could get a grade like 5.5 or 1.5. There is IMHO no need to require integers. Also, how are go dealing with Americans. Those guys are used to a double system i.e a 50 to 100 scale that translates into letter grades. But typically students want to see letter grades (I believe).
*** English language version suggestions:
- Expand a bit the long description of the English original that shows in the top left panel of the author tool ?? E.g. the resource tool also allows to display IMS CPs, For some folks the "display" aspect is as important as the "sharing" one.
- Some tooltips could be more obivous. E.g. "Enables editing of nomination" should be replaced by "Edit nomination" (Else lazy translators will go "activate editing of ...".
- For translators it would be better to use articles or adjectives. E.g. instead of "Create question" which could mean "Create a question" or "Create the question" you might use "Create new question".
*** Remarks regarding the french translation:
To make the french translation a bit more understandable I did change the meaning of some words. E.g. I din't translate "Gate" to "Door" (porte) but to "Lock" (verrou). Backtranslated a verrou is also a constriction. After all the icon is a "stop". I also made the noticeboard into "content" (contenu) since instructions/announcements can be made in any tool... Scribe became "report" etc. etc.
Posted by Daniel Schneider
