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blah, I knew there would be a discussion about this, hence why I tried to avoid it by saying "it isn't the best example".
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
'Contactpersonen' could also be 'contacten' (contacts in english). As we are not talking about a mechanical device
What I gave as an example was just that: an example... Moreover, "contacten" is used in some places where there is no dispute over what it could mean.
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
everybody knows it's about the persons in your list, which makes it a smaller word without a double meaning. Microsoft likes to write 'Contactpersonen' because they got plenty of space, but we must be realistic as we are limited. We must be creative, though clear. I really believe if we bundle our Dutch power we can bring up good alternatives 
Believe me when I say that there are no alternatives for some stuff.
We had these discussions years ago too where people suggested all kinds of dodgy, twisted, even invented words. Used one 'alternative' in one sentence and another 'alternative' in another sentence. To me that's just a plain quick dirty and messy translation.
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
'contact log viewer program' -> 'contactlogboek projector'
viewer program -> weergave -> weergever = projector (beter nederlands)
see?
That is in fact far worse Dutch; and not a translation at all. A "projector" is not a "viewer" in the context of a logbook viewer. You make a very common mistake in seeking words which translated back to English are the same word again, but without taking in account the many differences in meanings and contexts and the changes that the meaning of the word undergoes when double translating.
Even in English a 'viewer' can mean many different things.
A "viewer", as translated from the Dutch "projector", is not a program to view something with, but it is a beamer.
quote:
Originally posted by MenthiX
"Contactlogboek projector" may be acceptable for Belgium, but I can assure you 80% from the people from the Netherlands have no idea what you're talking about.
Even in Belgium it is plain wrong and would seem it came straight from online translator, and not even a good one.
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
I don't know for holland, but will they think they have to buy the device instead of double-clicking? Guess not...
That's tbh, a very stupid reason to use that word. It is not because the letters form the same word when you do a double translation without any concearn of the meaning (English > Dutch > English), that you can use the word.
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
Even stronger, in Holland the language-usage is even more strict than in Belgium...
Not true. They follow exactly the same grammatical rules, exactly the same spelling rules, etc. It is exactly the same language and exactly evenly strict. The only difference is between the frequency of the use of certain words (and the accent when speaking the language).
quote:
Originally posted by Fanta
To make it even more complicated, a lot of English words have found their way into Dutch.
Which doesn't always mean they have the same meaning:
quote:
Originally posted by Fanta
Just to point out, Viewer is Dutch as well:
RESULTAAT (maximaal 20 woorden)
vie·wer (de ~ (m.), ~s)
1 optisch toestelletje om dia's e.d. te bekijken
Source: www.vandale.nl I'd say they can be trusted 
"contact logviewer" zou technisch gezien dus een mogelijkheid zijn.
Nope, it isn't a possible because the Dutch word "viewer" means something entirly different than the English "viewer".
quote:
Originally posted by Exca
It's just a habit falling apart that's all. Like MSN that is going to be WLM in a couple of weeks. People still don't believe it's going to change, and they think it sounds weird as well. But lets see in a year how many people still think it sounds weird, and who still uses the word MSN. People make habits fast, especially on computers.
This isn't about "how it sounds" and certainly not about getting used to it. This is about translating and not inventing some twisted around meanings of words, using very localized words, doing double translations (en => nl => en), using very old words which don't exist anymore while there is a perfect good Dutch translation for it (old discussions with Servine, ring a bell?), and/or making a messy thing where sentences often don't even "sound" right for both Belgium and The Netherlands, let alone that some sentences don't say what is meant or explain what the control exactly does.
Which is exactly why I started (took over) the translation some years ago.
I do not intend to go back there.
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