Suggestion: Multi-lingual board

[JJR512]

This may have been suggested before now, but in case not, here's my idea.

Someone gets a link to the message board. They are asked if they want to continue in English, Spanish, French, German, etc. They pick a language. Now, for that person, the board entirely appears in that language, just for them. For me, it might be in English; for someone in Mexico, they would probably pick Spanish.

Now here's the good part. Each person can type in his/her messages and replies and personal info etc. in his/her own language. For example, that hypothetical Mexican member I just mentioned, who is reading the board in Spanish, can type in his replies in Spanish. But when I go to read them, I read them in English. Everything is automatically translated on the fly.

Of course, there would have to be one language set as default. Or perhaps it could auto-pick a starting language based on locale information sent through the headers. I also realize that some elements might not be translated, for example, any text drawn on buttons. Perhaps there would be multiple stylesets, though, one for each language with language-specific buttons. I also think it would be a good idea that if I'm reading a translated version of what the Mexican guy wrote in Spanish, that there is some kind of notation there to let me know, in case for some reason I got the urge to correct some spelling or grammar. There should also be a way for a person to see the post author's original message (in the original language). The one thing that would be a problem, though, is if an Admin/Mod has to edit someone's message and it was originally written in a different language. I could edit that Mexican guy's message and put English comments into it, but would everyone then see my comments in English, or would it be able to translate both the original Spanish, and my added English, into say French if someone from France is reading it? Just an issue.

[Wayne Luke]

You can use the template system to provide layouts in multiple languages.

However to translate the posts on the fly you would have to use software which is very much in development still and not very accurate. It is also very expensive. However if you are willing to invest the time and money to set it up you can check out www.systranlinks.com for more information. I am sure there are other providers but that company is the one that did Babelfish for Alta Vista.

[JJR512]

Hey, I'm just an idea guy! :)

Seriously, I think it's a good enough idea to warrant what you mentioned, I just don't have any money. At all. Literally. Time isn't that big of a problem, but knowledge is. I may have a relatively high number of hacks at vbulletin.org but I'm no expert. I'm still learning as I go. :)

[JJR512]

Ooh...$999/year for up to 20,000 translations per month.

That kind of price could only be afforded by some of the bigger sites out there, yet the bigger sites would probably need more than 20,000 translations per month.

What this idea needs is someone to write their own on-the-fly translator, one that could be installed on the customer's own server, thus negating the need to charge by the year or number of translations. The program would therefore be sold for a one-time up-front fee (unless it was just given away). The resource requirements, though, might be too high for many servers (that's just a guess, I really have no idea).

[floleb7]

with template if there is a new version you will have to traduce all template
and translation software is not a good solution

[anonymouse]

I have a similar question, with a somewhat different angle.

1. A multi-lingual board idea is great, i.e. language in spanish, english, french, ....

2. My question, is it possible to host vb in different languages under the same domain name (license). i.e. each board would essentially have different content but the same topics. i.e. if a guy who chooses the spanish board, sees everything in spanish, including the email notifications, error messages. I think the ability to seperate languages would be simply fantastic!

Is that presently supported in vb ? I mean, (a) are multi-language templates available from you folks, (b) can I run 2 boards concurrently in 2 languages, and if so, will they be able to share the same database, machine, domain and email server setup ?

Thanks!

[JamesUS]

The idea of someone writing their own on-the-fly translator is simply not going to happen here in the foreseeable foture. A translator is going to take the best programmer months and months, if not years. They are rarely accurate to begin with. Systrans' systems have been in development for years but are still far from perfect.

The only way anyone is going to get translations on their board in the foreseeable future is to pay the fees for Systrans or one of the others.

[anonymouse]

Greetings:

If you specifically responded to my posting then you either you did not read it carefully or understand it.

I, personally, am NOT suggesting any translations at all. I am suggesting that there be a way to have filtered language support. i.e. same forums with DIFFERENT content based on language.

i.e. someone would come to the board, forums.myforums.com and then choose a language. They would be directed to a page that displays the language they selected, almost like a sub-forum. So you would like have a language key or field to support this sort of thing. Almost like running a seperate forum per language under the same domain.

I am not sure if there is any consideration to doing this.

Thanks!

[JamesUS]

No I was responding to the other posts, not yours :) sorry for the confusion.

I think what you want would be done with template sets. You would need to make a template set for each language and then people can choose the language they want from the user control panel or by visiting a special URL.