-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi Aymeric,
On 10/22/2011 05:02 AM, Aymeric Augustin wrote: > On IRC, Bas Peschier pointed out that the current docs follow the > "definitions" of i18n and l10n. > > In fact, the code (in particular the settings) uses the "gettext" > definitions while the docs use the more general "Wikipedia" > definition, and confusion ensues. > > For consistency, I think the docs should reflect the assumptions of > the code. So I'm proposing the following clarification: > >> Definitions =========== >> >> Different people give different meanings to the words >> "internationalization" and "localization". >> >> Django follows the definitions from the `GNU gettext >> documentation`_: >> >> * Internationalization means supporting multiple languages; * >> Localization means supporting multiple input and output formats. >> >> In short, internationalization is about text, localization is about >> data. >> >> The `Wikipedia article`_ and the `W3C Web Internationalization >> FAQ`_ have a different approach: >> >> * Internationalization means preparing the software for >> localization; * Localization means writing the translations and >> local data. >> >> From this point of view, internationalization is for developers, >> localization is for translators. >> >> Although the latter definition is more common and possibly more >> correct, Django sticks with the former. Developers being the >> primary audience, a thematic approach makes more sense. It's more >> consistent with the implementation too. >> >> .. _W3C Web Internationalization FAQ: >> http://www.w3.org/International/questions/qa-i18n .. _GNU gettext >> documentation: >> http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/manual/gettext.html#Concepts .. >> _Wikipedia article: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internationalization_and_localization > > Does this make sense? I'm an expert in neither internationalization nor localization, but I do think that our code (in particular the highly user-visible bits like settings) should use the same definitions as our docs, otherwise we're just asking for confusion. And it's a lot easier to change the docs than to make backwards-incompatible code changes. So unless there is a really compelling reason to use the Wikipedia/W3C definitions, I agree with your proposed change. Carl -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iEYEARECAAYFAk6i5rMACgkQ8W4rlRKtE2eMlACfQryWkcDVkM2dVi4aYML9fnOr +NQAoIlH4rME4kYgw6S+/rCLsxfrxXsz =8BtB -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Django developers" group. To post to this group, send email to django-developers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to django-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en.
