Board Game Arena

I've come across some translations that aren't quite right but I can't seem to change them because they've been validated. Is there any way around this?

As soon as you figure that out, let me know how to fix all the English problems all over the site.

As far as I know in next topic you can ask to get access to change translations.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1592

It's too bad the translation system doesn't work a bit more like a wiki, where it's a lot easier to make corrections or improvements. I suspect there just aren't enough people committed to putting in the time to do translations in a systematic, methodical way. It's really unfortunate that a translation gets treated as "validated" merely if nobody makes corrections within a specific period of time. That's not validation so much as neglect!

Some people have the right to modify validated translations (admins and, as far as I know, those with > 100 validated strings and people who request it with a valid reason, e.g. a language which is less common -> see demiurgsage's link).
In my opinion, it would be risky for BGA to allow an easy access to all strings for anyone. On Wikipedia, there are also some rules to prevent many pages from becoming complete b*llsh*t overnight.

ThierryC wrote: In my opinion, it would be risky for BGA to allow an easy access to all strings for anyone..

Agreed.

dhnyny wrote:I've come across some translations that aren't quite right but I can't seem to change them because they've been validated. Is there any way around this?

If it's only some, you can request the change in the following thread (with language, current translation, better translation)
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1592

If it's a lot, you can ask for the right to fix validated translations. People contributing regularly to translations also get this right after 100 of their translations gets validated after the 30 days translation period.

Liallan wrote:As soon as you figure that out, let me know how to fix all the English problems all over the site.

Well, we are not native English speakers and we know it

So we factored in the translation system the possibility to "translate" from our or game developers (sometimes imperfect) English to (hopefully better) English. Just use English as source language and English as destination language in the translation center. You'll get a warning because when you change an English string you change the source language that will be used to translate in many other languages, so please pay extra attention to any change you make.

New English strings can be changed for 30 days then get validated like in other languages (and can still be changed afterwards with the same conditions as described above).

Any help on making the English strings better is of course much appreciated!

dhnyny wrote:It's too bad the translation system doesn't work a bit more like a wiki, where it's a lot easier to make corrections or improvements. I suspect there just aren't enough people committed to putting in the time to do translations in a systematic, methodical way. It's really unfortunate that a translation gets treated as "validated" merely if nobody makes corrections within a specific period of time. That's not validation so much as neglect!

The idea is that translation activity occurs mostly just after new strings have been released (this seems to match reality, at least for languages where there is a sufficient number of translators).

So if a string is not changed for 30 days, we consider that it's been correctly translated since no one saw fit to make any change for a reasonable period. After that, regular translators with 100 validated strings can still change it if needed, so the system still allows for fixing mistakes.

Neglect would be if something needed constant improvement and didn't see any change for 30 days. This is not true for translations, which do not need (and shouldn't) change once the correct translation has been created, so a period without change seems a valid criterion for validation.

Een wrote:

Liallan wrote:As soon as you figure that out, let me know how to fix all the English problems all over the site.

Well, we are not native English speakers and we know it

So we factored in the translation system the possibility to "translate" from our or game developers (sometimes imperfect) English to (hopefully better) English. Just use English as source language and English as destination language in the translation center. You'll get a warning because when you change an English string you change the source language that will be used to translate in many other languages, so please pay extra attention to any change you make.

New English strings can be changed for 30 days then get validated like in other languages (and can still be changed afterwards with the same conditions as described above).

Any help on making the English strings better is of course much appreciated!

Oh wow, thanks. I was somewhat kidding, but only because I wasn't expecting I could really do anything about it, other than bugging someone with private messages all the time. When I have the time I'll have to take a look at this. (And yes I know you're not native English speakers, although people in the U.S. have such terrible English these days that sometimes yours is better than theirs.)

Liallan wrote:When I have the time I'll have to take a look at this.

I updated your account so that you can fix validated translations, then! (most English strings are validated).
I would suggest just searching and fixing strings when you see something wrong while browsing the website, going over the strings one by one through the interface would be pretty tedious (except maybe for some games with not too many strings).

Oh cool, thanks. (Unfortunately I don't always have the time for such things, but it's nice to know when I do I can pursue this.)

And yes, I was mostly referring to when I just happen to see something.