FAQ: languages and right-to-left
This page answers the language questions public bodies ask about Exponential. The answers come from Content languages, Translations and languages, Right-to-left languages, Languages and Internationalization standards.
Contents
- Can we publish in several languages?
- Which languages are possible?
- Are right-to-left languages supported?
- Can staff use the administration in their language?
- What happens when a translation is missing?
- Can translations be approved before publishing?
- Is there machine translation?
Can we publish in several languages?
Yes. Each content object can have a translation per content language, and each language can have its own siteaccess, address and design settings (Content languages, Multilingual sites).
Which languages are possible?
Any language with a locale. The project counts 368 locale files, 43 of them right to left (Who is the Exponential Foundation?). More than 30 languages on one site need a 64-bit PHP, because the languages of an object are kept as bits of one integer (2. Requirements).
Are right-to-left languages supported?
Yes, in content and in the administration: right-to-left languages set dir="rtl" on the page, names are isolated so
mixed text keeps its order (Right-to-left languages). Your public design must
also handle mirrored layout (Right-to-left sites).
Can staff use the administration in their language?
Yes, where a translation exists. The Foundation page counts administration translations (the current totals are at the top of Languages in Exponential) (Who is the Exponential Foundation?); other pages give slightly different counts, so check the current state in the language list, which shows how complete each translation is (Languages). Staff choose their interface language (UI switch settings).
What happens when a translation is missing?
Your settings decide whether visitors see the object in another language or not at all (Content languages). Decide this per site and tell editors.
Can translations be approved before publishing?
Yes, with an approval workflow on publishing, which applies to translations as to any version (Workflows).
Is there machine translation?
Not in the kernel. Exponential Intelligence, an optional extension, can write drafts that an editor reviews; it never publishes on its own (Exponential Intelligence). A translator should review any machine-assisted text, especially legal and official content.
Related pages
- Government FAQ
- Multilingual checklist
- Internationalization standards
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
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