Overview

This is the home page for Ubuntu English translations.

Our intention is to maintain a central communications channel for en-GB based languages. Generally, this includes the forms of English spoken in Commonwealth countries such as the [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-l10n-en-gb United Kingdom], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/IndianTeam India], [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-l10n-en-au Australia], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SouthAfricanTeam South Africa] and [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CanadianTeam Canada].

These variants are almost identical in their written forms, so it makes sense for some communication and co-operation to take place. We hope to eliminate the duplication of effort that is currently taking place in regards to translations.

Our translations are based on [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/dapper/+lang/en_GB/ British English]. That effort is is headquartered [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-l10n-en-gb here].

We do not intend to restrict the activities of local translation groups, but rather to provide a common base for everyone to build upon.

How to Participate

Joining the Ubuntu English (United Kingdom) Translators team allows you to commit translations and vote on policies. If you are not a member, your contributions will need to be approved by a member. The procedure for joining is as follows.

1. Sign up for a [https://launchpad.net/ Launchpad account].

2. Make your e-mail address visible on your Launchpad homepage so that we can get in touch with you. If we cannot contact you, you cannot join.

3. Apply to join the [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-l10n-en-gb Ubuntu English (United Kingdom) Translators team]

4. Sign up to the [https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-l10n-eng ubuntu-l10n-eng mailing list]

5. An Administrator should e-mail you. Reply to their message.

The team is moderated, meaning that you need to be approved by an Administrator before you are allowed to join. Membership is dependent upon:

• adequate command of the written English language to qualify as a translator
• ability to contribute constructively and work as a team under the leadership of the Administrators
• following established guidelines and directions
• remaining contactable via the mailing list

Don't let these requirements scare you off, though. Provided you have decent written English language skills, you will likely be admitted.

Communication

Our primary communications channel is our [https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-l10n-eng mailing list].

Tools

Our main tool is [https://launchpad.net/rosetta/+about Rosetta], Ubuntu's Web-based translation tool. To get started, consult the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TranslatingUbuntu Translation Team portal].

Given that the bulk of our translation effort is simple word substitution, it may make sense to introduce some automation into our process. As a first step towards this, we are compiling a [wiki:EnglishTranslation/WordSubstitution table of translations].

Greasemonkey script

Team member [https://launchpad.net/people/malcolm-parsons Malcolm Parsons] maintains a [http://pepsiman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/translate.user.js Greasemonkey script] to ease the translation process in Rosetta. It is updated at irregular intervals. Be sure to remove any previously installed versions before installing a new version.

Note that the script merely makes suggestions for word substitutions (based on [wiki:EnglishTranslation/WordSubstitution our table of translations]). It does not check punctuation, grammar or style.

Requirements:

• [http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ Mozilla Firefox]

• the [http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/ Greasemonkey] extension

Screenshots: [http://pepsiman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/launchpad_with_greasemonkey.png One] | [http://pepsiman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/launchpad_with_greasemonkey2.png Two]

Translation Guidelines

Translations should be based on the [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/Default.asp?dict=CALD Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary] the [http://www.askoxford.com/dictionaries/compact_oed/?view=uk Oxford English Dictionary] and the [http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/chref/chref.py/main Chambers 21st Century Dictionary], unless they conflict with the information given below.

The [http://live.gnome.org/BritishEnglish GNOME] and [http://kde.me.uk/index.php?page=kde-en-gb KDE] projects have established guidelines for their own translation efforts. Wikipedia hosts a number of informative [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?search=american+british+english pages] on the subject:

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences American and British English spelling differences]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK-US_heterologues_A-Z UK-US heterologues A-Z]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_words_not_widely_used_in_the_United_Kingdom List of American words not widely used in the United Kingdom]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_English International English]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:English_language English Language]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:English_dialects English Dialects]

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Forms_of_English Forms of English]

Below is a table of common translations. Note that these rules do not always apply, so use with caution. For a more complete list, refer to the aforementioned [wiki:EnglishTranslation/WordSubstitution table of translations].

• en-US Spelling	English Translation	Example/Explanation
  *or	*our	colour, favour, honour
  *yze	*yse	analyse
  *ize	*ise	colourise, organise, but not size
  *alog	*alogue	catalogue, dialogue
  e*	oe*	oestrogen
  *e*	*ae*	encyclopaedia, anaesthetic, archaeology
  *ed	*t	spelt, spilt, spoilt, dreamt, knelt, burnt
  *er	*re	centre, fibre, litre, metre, millimetre
  *in	*ine	adrenaline, glycerine
  *led	*lled	labelled
  *se	*ce	only when a noun: licence, practice, advice, defence
  aluminum	aluminium
  check	tick	the tick box
  check	cheque	a bank cheque
  checker	chequer	a game of chequers, a chequered floor
  counter-clockwise	anti-clockwise	rotate anti-clockwise
  Dr., Mr., Mrs.	Dr, Mr, Mrs	Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating.
  gasoline	petrol
  gray	grey
  hood	bonnet	The lid covering the engine compartment of a car.
  mom	mum	mother
  parentheses	brackets
  period	full stop
  pound sign	hash
  sulfur	sulphur
  theater	theatre
  trunk	boot	The luggage compartment of a car.
  zee	zed	pronunciation of the final letter of the English alphabet
  ZIP code	postcode

Dialectical Differences

Since our goal is to provide a common base for English, one must be mindful of the use of English internationally, and the differences between dialects. Below is a list of differences that should be reconciled. We will use the mailing list to discuss such matters.

• en-US Spelling	Current en-GB Translation	Explanation/Alternatives
  Trash	Wastebasket	Rubbish, Garbage, Rubbish Bin, Garbage Bin, Deleted Items, Deleted Items folder
  disk, disc	disc	should this depend on context?
  plugin	plug-in
  program	programme	should this depend on context?

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