GNOME Canadian English (en_CA) Translation Project

What is it?

This project exists to translate as many GNOME components as possible to a nonexistent standard of Canadian English, or a reasonable variant thereof.

Why?

Because unlike Brits, we don't customise our desktops; and unlike Americans, we don't set the desktop color. But mainly because there's no American word for "hoser."

Do I have to hack pofiles by hand?

Danilo Segan has written a python script that will modify stuff automatically. The wordlist needs to be extended, but it contains the most important translations. You need the script and the wordlist and a python interpreter. Thanks, Danilo!

This isn't about nitpicking on dictionary entries; it's about spelling things the way that we'd expect them to be spelled. For this reason, I am opposed to citing a canonical source of proper Canadian English spellings. If you want one, find a dictionary with a maple leaf on the cover. That's about all there is, as the GC has not released an official revision on Canadian English. In other words, whatever seems best, is best.

The corollary here is that there are a couple things that I am dead-set on. One primary thing -- and I don't expect that we'll ever come across this -- is that all medical terms must be spelled properly. That means oesophagus, haemophilia, rhinorrhoea, anaesthetic, foetus, leukaemia, paediatric, aether, apnoea, etc. It's a pet peeve.

Please adhere to the following caveats:

• When there are two acceptable Canadian English spellings (e.g. pyjama and pajama), take the spelling closest to the Queen's English.
• Originally, I didn't want to use "dialogue," but I've gotten some angsty emails about it, so now "dialogue" is official.
• Thousands are separated with a space (1 x 10⁶ = 1 000 000); the day comes before the month (25/12/2004); and the little hand goes all the way up to 23 (24 if you're counting like a human).
• A VU meter can be properly used to measure a metre of poutine. Well, grammatically, anyway.
• One may enter a government centre through the centre doors.
• One speaks within double-quotes, and thinks within single-quotes.
• There is a period after Dr. and Mr.
• You can practise something, or get in some practice.
• There is no -yze. You analyse, chemicals catalyse, and if your kidneys fail, you might have to dialyse.
• Here at True Directions, we don't use profanity or double-negatives.
• "America" shall be used only when referring to the American continents as a whole. Otherwise, use "North America" or "the United States" as needed. The exception here is that people from the USA are "Americans." Given that there is thus no unique word for Those Who Hail From The American Continents (analogous to Europeans from Europe), I hereby proclaim such people to be called "Steve." Steve is a good name.
• The word 'bling' must always be translated into something else, such as "shiny accoutrement." There are no exceptions to this rule.