Online translation with Crowdin
Tip
Crowdin provides you with a well-written and extended knowledge base on all questions regarding how to use the platform. You can find it here: https://support.crowdin.com/.
Getting started
If you want to participate, it only takes a few steps to get started:
- Create an account at Crowdin: https://accounts.crowdin.com/register
- Either find a TYPO3-project or go straight to TYPO3 Core (https://crowdin.com/project/typo3-cms). There is also a list of extensions available for translation at the TYPO3 Crowdin Bridge
- Join the project
- Select your preferred language
- Start translation
Using Crowdin is free for Open Source projects. For private projects, Crowdin's pricing model is based on projects and not on individual users.
To help you get started, Tom Warwick has created a short tutorial video for you:
Teams and roles
When you sign up for an account at Crowdin for the first time, you will be awarded with the role "Translator" and you can start translating.
Find the project via the search and click on the Join button. Click on the language/flag you want to translate. Go ahead and translate!
All translated strings are considered translated, but not proofread. When the strings have been proofread by team members with the "Proofreader" role, the translation will be available for all TYPO3 instances via the "Managing Language Packs" section in the TYPO3 backend.
The language files in Core
In Crowdin, the TYPO3 Core is divided into system extensions and their underlying language files. Each system extension contains one or more files, and the structure reflects the actual structure, but only for the XLIFF files.
While you translate an XLIFF file, Crowdin supports you with valuable information:
- You get a clear overview on the progress. A grey bar means that work needs to be done, the blue bar shows how many words have been translated and the green bar shows how many words have been approved.
- The system offers you suggestions on terms and translations from the Translation Memory (TM) and Machine Translation (MT).
- You can sort and order the labels in different ways; show only untranslated, unresolved, commented, and so on. And all the labels as well.
- You can start discussions about a specific string.
- You can search the Translation Memory.
- You can improve the Translation Memory by adding new terms.
- You can easily get in contact with the language manager and team members.
Preconditions
You need a detailed understanding of how TYPO3 works. You have preferably worked with TYPO3 for some years as developer, administrator, integrator or senior editor. You know your way around in the backend and you are familiar with most of the functionality and features. If you are more focused in translating extensions, you will need to understand all the parts of the extension before you start translating.
What skills are needed
You need to be bilingual: fluent in both English and the language you are translating into. It would be hard work if you only had casual knowledge of the target language or English. And we would (probably) end up with a confusing localization.
A good understanding of how a language is constructed in terms of nouns, verbs, punctuation and grammar in general will be necessary.
How to create (good) translations
- Stay true to the source labels you work with. Given that the developer of the code, who made the English text, understands the functionality best, please try to translate the meaning of the sentences.
- Translate organically, not literally. The structure or your target language is important. English often has a different structure and tone, so you must adapt the equal text but the equivalent. So please do not replicate, but replace.
- Use the same level of formality. The cultural context can be very different from different languages. What works in English may be way far too informal in your language and vice versa. Try to find a good level of (in)formality and stick to it. And be open to discuss it with your fellow team translators.
- Look into other localized projects in your language. There are tons of Open Source projects being translated, also into your language. Be curious and look at how the localization is done – there might be things to learn and adapt.
- Be consistent. Localization of high quality is characterised by the consistency. Make extensive use of the terms and glossary.
- Use machine translation carefully. It is tempting but dangerous to do a quick translation with one of the common machine translation tools and sometimes it can help you to get a deeper understanding of the meaning of a text. But very often a machine-translated text breaks all the above rules unless you rework the text carefully afterwards.
- Work together. As in all other aspects of Open Source, things get so much better when we work together. So, reach out for help when you get stuck. Or offer your knowledge if someone ask for it. Crowdin provides a good platform for collaborating with your team translators, and please join the Translation Slack channel #typo3-translations.
Note
When translating into German, we prefer the informal "du" to the formal "Sie".
Translation styles
In general, and where it makes sense, we follow the Writing Style Guide from the Content Team.
In the future (when translation teams start getting bigger), it might be a good idea to develop local style guides.
Become a proofreader
Community-driven translations form the backbone of the translation of TYPO3. Huge thanks to all translators and proofreaders for their invaluable contributions!
Please contact the Localization Team via email at localization@typo3.org to request the role of a proofreader.
Or join the Slack channel of the Localization Team: #typo3-localization-team
Links
There are many good resources when it comes to translation, language, dictionaries, etc. Feel free to suggest your favorite websites, when you work with language.
FAQ
Should I localize both 13.4 and main?
The main branch is the leading version. Any string that is also present in the previous version is automatically filled during export and only needs to be localized if it is different in the previous version.
Strings are translated, but when are they taken into account and available for download?
As soon as a string is proofread, it will be taken into account at the next export. The export is done every two hours.
If the process takes too long, please write an email to localization@typo3.org.
How can I be sure what way a word, term or string is to be translated?
There are several ways to get help: In the left panel you can either search the translation memory (TM) or the term base. You can also drop a comment to start a discussion or ask for advice.
Where do I meet all the other translators?
There is a good chance to find help and endorsement in the TYPO3 Slack workspace. Try the Translation Slack channel #typo3-translations.