By kenyan on

Hi guys,
We should decide this at the outset.
I am of the opinion that our translations should be colloquial in nature mostly due to the fact that users of Drupal from our world will be younger (or at least we should be trying to get them involved).

We should then try as much as possible to use relaxed Kiswahili when translating.

Please discuss.

Groups audience: 
Swahili team

Comments

cmsproducer commented

I agree & disagree ... all depends on what each term means.

Stability of language:
I do not advocate that we stick to the rules as set by some village in Zanzibar, by the same token, we cannot encourage terms that are 'half-cooked' and barely stable and borrowed from vernaculars (I am referring to Sheng). I suggest using current and stable Kiswahili that can be understood by people with access to a Kamusi; anywhere: be it: Mombasa, Berlin, Dar es salaam, Nairobi.

The goal is to include anyone who can speak standard Kiswahili access Drupal.
I find google.co.ke or .tz to be a good example

kenyan commented

I am in absolute agreement cmsproducer.
I did not in any way mean sheng. Just easier and more casual Swahili.

As an example, listening to Swahili news many are left clueless as to what the anchor was talking about. Not because they do not speak swahili but because said anchor was more intent on being impressive as opposed to communicating.
Kiswahili is vastly rich and there arecountless ways to say the same thing.
My suggestion was to keep translation to what an 'ordinary' speaker would use in casual communication and avoid being professorial.