Re: [libreoffice-l10n] Language Support, Spelling Check, Grammar Check, Proofreading, Autocorrect.

On 29/02/2016 09:34, Michael Bauer wrote:

> > As is, LibO is perilously close to the maximum number of languages
that can be supported, without undergoing a major UI redesign.

> That is quite worrying - in what sense do you mean that?

* Ease in selecting the correct language.
Currently, there is a bewildering array of languages and locales, that
most people will never utilize. For those who do, finding the
appropriate one can be challenging.
By way of example, most people don't realize that "Greek, Ancient" is
not "Koine Greek", and that LibO doesn't formally support "Koine Greek".
Whilst using "Greek, Ancient" usually works, both the spell checker and
grammar checker will do a number on one, when one is not paying close
attention.

* Ability to utilize neighbouring, almost supported languages.
By way of example, the minority languages of France. Configure LibO for
one of them, and almost all of the other minority languages are
automatically excluded. (I'll grant that Ethnologue is at least
partially to be blamed for that situation.)

On a slightly more practical/political level, not all of the
semi-official languages of South Africa, can be configured in a single
LibO setup. The same thing applies to India, and its semi-official
languages. (Those two countries rank as having the second largest and
largest number of official languages, and semi-official languages,
respectively, in the world.)

I don't have a good solution to either issue. :(

Whilst «country, language, writing system, aeon, modifier» is ostensibly
the simplest approach, spinning that many choices will be overwhelming
for non-power users. (^2)
How many people write Turkish in the Arabic writing system. On the
flipside, enabling that will allow users of Braille, Moon and other A11Y
writing systems to do both spell checking and grammar checking. On the
gripping hand, it will enable one to easily include Xhosa, Pedi, Griqua,
and the rest of the semi-official Khosian languages of South Africa,
without grammar/spelling clashes.

Something that makes language selection slightly more complicated, but
is extremely helpful to those who use unsupported languages, or
neighbouring semi-supported languages, would be three or four "user
language #" in each of the Western, Asian, & CTL language groups.
(There are/were technical & legal reasons why that is no longer provided.)

^2: I think that this modification will also require some changes in the
ODF specifications.

jonathon

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