Basque penguin
Elhuyar Fundazioa
Most readers already know what Linux is. It is characterized by being a free distribution operating system. It is an operating system developed by thousands of volunteers through the Internet, so it allows the free download of the Internet. One of the advantages of this system is that your code is free and that everyone can make the changes you want in the operating system.
Even if until recently Microsoft did not heed Linux, it can be said that it is the most important enemy of Windows. They say that in China it is used more than Linux Windows itself and is increasingly widespread around the world. The DELL company has started selling computers with the installed Linux operating system. This distribution has helped a lot to this, but it must be taken into account that lately the use of Linux itself has been greatly simplified (also improving the graphical interface) and that commercial copies that offer a high level of security are also on sale on the market. Yes, these copies are sold in four or five thousand pesetas along with thousands of programs collected on five or six CDs, unlike Windows.
Euskal-Linux
On the occasion of Microsoft's Office Basque translation, I spoke before the need to take more steps here: On the need to translate into Basque the MacOs or Linux operating systems, or to translate several applications distributed in the market. The Basque version of Linux has come from the hand of Euskal-Linux. A group of volunteers started working five years ago and the Basque version of Linux is the first result of their work.
The operating system is not completely translated, since the translation of the entire operating system of this type requires a huge job and it must also be taken into account that this is a translation work carried out by people of Euskal-Linux outside their working hours. In any case, the return of Linux is not its only objective, but the extension of this operating system in Euskal Herria.
Not only do they want to promote the use of Linux, they are also working with ONCE to let Linux know the Braille language and thus create special applications for the disabled. However, for the operating system to succeed, it is clear that it also has to offer entertainment. This has been one of the characteristics of the success of Windows and the loss of MacOS for several years (although lately it has turned around the situation through the iMac), so those of Euskal-Linux are also thinking about offering games for Linux in Basque. To do this, they have contacted an important house in the United States. Soon we hope to know the work done by this group.
Version in Basque language
Although the work carried out by the Euskal-Linux ORG association is meritorious, it is not so much the level of Basque that they have used in translation. Although I have not been able to see this Linux in Basque, in view of the screens that appear on its website (www.euskal-linux.org), I would say that in the translation they have not taken much care of the Basque language. Why do I say all this: It is clear that they have not taken into account the norms of Euskaltzaindia, since they see menus like "Jokuak" or "Irudi zarratu". But I consider the terminological confusion more serious. I consider it important to use a common terminology. I think if not, users will confuse them if we call the same thing in various ways. Windows and Linux are not the same but use a similar terminology, and I don't know why in one case you have to translate "Publish" in the other. In addition to doubling the work, we mix the users. But the problem is not only to unify it with the translations already made. The Euskera version of Linux shows the "File" menu in one window and the "File" menu in another. This terminology should be unified and written, to the extent possible, taking into account the rules of Euskaltzaindia.
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