castris
Verified User
Proposal: Spanish (es_ES) neutral translation style guide for DirectAdmin
Hello everyone,
I've been actively contributing to the Spanish translation project at
DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin is being translated into 37 languages using Weblate. Join the translation or start translating your own project.
translate.directadmin.com
The Problem
Unlike languages like French or German where regional differences are minimal, Spanish varies considerably between Spain and Latin American countries. The translation platform uses a single es_ES domain, but this creates usability issues since terminology that's standard in Spain may be confusing or unfamiliar to Latin American users (and vice versa).
Examples of problematic variations:
- Respaldo (LatAm) vs Copia de seguridad (Spain) for "Backup"
- Ordenador (Spain) vs Computadora (LatAm) for "Computer"
- Correo electrónico vs Email usage preferences
- Technical jargon that varies significantly by region
This linguistic fragmentation directly impacts user experience, as hosting panel users span across all Spanish-speaking regions.
Proposed Solution
I suggest implementing a neutral international Spanish approach within the existing es_ES domain structure. This would involve:
- Base framework: Use es_ES grammar and structure as foundation
- Vocabulary selection: Choose terms widely understood across all Spanish-speaking regions
- Strategic anglicisms: Maintain commonly understood technical terms in English when appropriate
- Consistency: Establish a standardized glossary for all contributors
Reference Translation Guide
Here's a starting glossary formatted for our forum:
English Term → Recommended Spanish (Rationale)
Backup → Copia de seguridad (Standard across regions vs regional "Respaldo")
Restore → Restaurar (Technical precision over colloquial "Recuperar")
Forwarder → Dirección de reenvío (Clear, self-explanatory)
Catch-all → Dirección catch-all (Anglicism widely understood in hosting context)
Settings → Configuración (Professional tone vs colloquial "Ajustes")
User → Usuario (Universal acceptance)
Vacation message → Mensaje de ausencia (Professional vs casual "vacaciones")
File → Archivo (Standard vs regional "Fichero")
Domain → Dominio (Universal)
Subdomain → Subdominio (Technical standard)
Community Input Needed
Before finalizing this approach, I'd appreciate feedback on:
1. Translation Philosophy
- Should we prioritize Spain Spanish (es_ES) or aim for maximum regional neutrality?
- How do we balance technical accuracy with user familiarity?
2. Anglicism Strategy
- Which technical terms should remain in English? (backup, catch-all, login, etc.)
- When should we provide parenthetical explanations?
3. Implementation
- Should we create a comprehensive style guide for all es_ES contributors?
- How can we ensure consistency as the translation project grows?
4. Testing & Validation
- Would it be valuable to test terminology with users from different Spanish-speaking regions?
Next Steps
If there's community support, I'm willing to:
- Develop a comprehensive Spanish translation style guide
- Create a detailed glossary for technical hosting terms
- Coordinate with other Spanish contributors for consistency
- Document regional considerations for future reference
The goal is creating Spanish translations that serve DirectAdmin users effectively regardless of their specific regional background, while maintaining the technical precision our hosting panel requires.
Looking forward to your thoughts and suggestions!