[Opensim-users] Translation tips (Fred Beckhusen)

[Fred]

You may be using a translator, either here or in the virtual world.  
Here are some simple rules for English speakers that help machines 
translate.

Use capitalization and punctuation.

Use a spell checker.

Avoid jargon. Jargon are special words or expressions that are used by a 
particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Use a hyphen when a modifier comes before the word the hyphen is 
modifying. An example of a hyphen is the phrase 'right-click'.  'Right' 
modifies 'click' and is on the left so I add a hyphen. 'Right click' 
without a hyphen is known to translate as 'Correct click' in some 
languages.

Think of other meanings for each word you use.    The phrase ‘Use one 
complete thought in a sentence' may translate as 'in a prison'.

Use one complete thought in a phrase.  See what I did there?

Use words found in a dictionary.

Use repetition instead of the word 'it'. 'I went out to the movie 
yesterday in my car with my girl and I liked it' has many possible 
subjects of the word 'it'.    Say 'I went to the movie in my car with my 
girl and I liked (going out|yesterday|the movie|my girl|the car)'.

Use simple words. (Eschew obfuscation) This entire text is calculated at 
grade 7.2 level by Microsoft Word. Try to write at grade level 8 or lower.

Avoid analogies (like the plague). We often compare one thing with 
another as an illustrative device.

Avoid idioms.  An idiom is a figurative expression, often unique to a 
particular cultural or language group.   If you are sitting on the fence 
about it,  you shouldn’t be caught dead using idioms.

Fred Beckhusen