It's Time To Clean Up English Rough Edges - Allows to.. etc.

[PeterTBCarp2]

I suggest that poor use of language in presentation of a product reflects badly on the product. It detracts from the product's credibility, and, ultimately, from its entire value.

One aspect of English used in the whole of TC, in Help, in the readmes, history, etc is the incorrect use of the verb/verb expression "Allows to [do][][]..".

It is, plain and simply, wrong English.

We 'allow' - things - [to]/[for] [something].
Verb - noun - [verb][noun].

First example:
"Allows to use the Windows key.."
The correct expression is:
'Allows the use of the Windows key..'
(Verb (allows) noun (the use of) noun (the Windows key))

Allows to use..
Allows to get..
Allows to set..
Allows to alter..
Allows to configure.. - ALL ARE WRONG.

Others, for example, appear in the current What's New in this version? - New functions.. [nouns/things/not actions]:
- Compare by content allows to compare text files of different type
- FTP, PORT mode: Allow to specify external IP address of the Internet router
- Allow to use the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys
- On 64-bit Windows, allow to use 64-bit shell extensions
- Quick search with search dialog: Show button which allows to show only files/dirs matching the filter

- Compare by content allows to compare text files of different type
>>Compare by content allows the comparison of text files of different typeS

- FTP, PORT mode: Allow to specify external IP address of the Internet router
>> FTP, PORT mode: Allows the specification of the external IP address of the Internet router

- Allow to use the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys
>> The use of the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys

- On 64-bit Windows, allow to use 64-bit shell extensions
>> On 64-bit Windows, the use of 64-bit shell extensions

- Quick search with search dialog: Show button which allows to show only files/dirs matching the filter
>> Quick search with search dialog: A Show button which can show only files/dirs that match the filter

Others.

"Allows to.." - not!

[PeterTBCarp2]

Then there's:

"- New internal association system, e.g. for using Total Commander from an USB stick"

"ay yoo" is permitted.

'- .... from a USB stick'.

[same place as above]

[karlchen]

Hello, PeterTBCapr2.

I suggest that poor use of language in presentation of a product reflects badly on the product. It detracts from the product's credibility, and, ultimately, from its entire value.

Well, I guess Christian from Swiss, me from Germany, Peter from Denmark and 95% of the whole crowd who post in the English forum should all apologize for not having been born as native speakers of the English language.

If your simple equation is correct, then I wonder how Total Commander has managed to survive for about 16 years now and how it has managed to preserve its popularity?

This does not suggest that presenting the Total Commander helpfile in perfect English were not a good idea. Would you prefer British English or American English by the way?

Except for English, there is at minimum 1 native speaker who helps Christian translate all the messages which T.C. displays to the users into languages like Danish, Dutch, Hungarian, Korean or Slovak.

So I assume that Christian would gladly accept linguistic support by a native English speaker as well. Quite seems as if no native speaker has volunteered so far.

Kind regards,
Karl

[PeterTBCarp2]

Great, Karl.

Given the vagaries of human egos I meant to add in a third post that I wasn't intending my comments to be pejorative. But I had to sleep..

I understand that a lot of the TC community, especially its author, comes from central Europe - which is why I offered my comments on the use of English, from a native English speaker.

Yes, I believe we should use English as English, BI (British Isles), not the bastardised (sic) version that the contrarians devised in the New World.

If my services can help then they will be offered.

Now - let's all contribute.


BTW, it's not only the English that needs a makeover; have you seen the TC graphic linked on the home page? 35k. Wow!
And the filenames..!

[Boofo]

As an native English speaker myself, I never noticed any of what PeterTBCarp2 is complaining about until now. And I get around TC just fine and understand everything it says. Changing it all now might confuse a lot of us. As I always say:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

By the way, what the hell does the following mean? I'm born and bred in the USA and I have no idea what vagaries and pejorative is. Sounds painful.

"Given the vagaries of human egos I meant to add in a third post that I wasn't intending my comments to be pejorative"

[petermad]

2Boofo

As an native English speaker myself,

Not according to PeterTBCarp2 - to him your English is:

the bastardised (sic) version that the contrarians devised in the New World

[Boofo]

2petermad,

That is only one man's opinion. We all know proper World English is American made.

Whatever English he is speaking is more foreign to me than anything else. "Big words does not a sentence make."

You and I have no problem communicating. That's all that counts as far as I am concerned.

[Lefteous]

To all native English speakers
What about using
let you instead of allows to
so instead of
Allow to use the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys
Let you use the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys

I have heard native speakers using this term but I'm mot sure if it fits into the context.

[fenix_productions]

[OT]
Sorry for non-constructive comment but I had strange vision:

Code: Select all

---------------------------
Total Commander
---------------------------
Do you really want to delete the selected file mfc70u.dll?
---------------------------
Yes, I do.   No, I don't.   Cancel, please.
---------------------------

or

Code: Select all

---------------------------
Total Commander
---------------------------
Do you wanna delete the selected file mfc70u.dll?
---------------------------
Yes.   Ain't do that.   Cancel.
---------------------------

[/OT]

[PeterTBCarp2]

2Boofo

I'm born and bred in the USA and I have no idea what vagaries and pejorative is.

There's another expression in English "To stand still is to go backwards."
Look them up, Boof.

2Lefteous:
Yes, close, but it would be "[the function] let*s* you use the Wkey.."

But keep in mind that the sub-heading of the section is "New functions.." [a plural noun].

You can't say '[a new function is] lets you use the Wkey..".
It doesn't make sense.
They need to be nouns, things - not actions (verbs).
They're new functions, things.

'Communication' is all well and good, but we're talking about polishing up the product, giving it some shine, attracting new users, sales. How about going beyond the rough 'n' ready? Let's think about Christian. And our community.

Now, what about that 34k, 4:3, 16 year old graphic?
And the filenames! In \totcmdr! "\totcmdr"!?!?!

[Boofo]

2Lefteous,

Actually, "Allow the use of the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys" would be proper. But the way it is now is just as easy to understand.

2fenix_productions,

Or better yet:

Code: Select all

--------------------------- 
Total Commander 
--------------------------- 
Do you wanna delete the selected file mfc70u.dll? 
--------------------------- 
Uh-Huh.   No freakin' way!   Forget it! 
---------------------------

2PeterTBCarp2,

Why should I have to look up words that I never hear or use? Why not make it so everyone can understand it? Not all of us are professors.

[fenix_productions]

2PeterTBCarp2
I understand that TC web page is spaghetti code made in Front Page but what is wrong with 34K picture? Is it strange to inform about it?

If yes, then remember that not every person in the world has broadband connection and 34K might be "big", even in year 2009.

P.S. You're not the only one bothered by truly outdated www

[PeterTBCarp2]

2Lefteous,

Actually, "Allow the use of the Windows key for user-defined hotkeys" would be proper. But the way it is now is just as easy to understand.
[[P2: Wrong.]]

2PeterTBCarp2,

Why should I have to look up words that I never hear or use? Why not make it so everyone can understand it? Not all of us are professors.

A curious thing is that Joanne Rowling had to simplify the title of 'Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone' to 'Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone' for the American market. Too complex.
http://www.wisegeek.com/in-harry-potter-what-is-the-philosophers-stone.htm
Yes, you're right; we're all not professors.


2fenix: Re broadband: Yes, but we have to move with the times. We can't target the lowest common denominator forever. See aphorism above about standing still.

[Boofo]

2PeterTBCarp2,

Yup, us Americans be dumb.

[Jordi]

Too complex.

I rather think that US publishers "misunderestimate" (as W would say) their potential clients. Not a nice thing to do. (Their Spanish colleagues are even worse: in the Castilian version of Robert Harris' Pompeii, "miles" are translated as "quilómetros", and so on – clearly the Romans already invented the metric system.)

By the way: of course the errors you mentioned earlier should be corrected. But maybe a somewhat less condescending tone would make your suggestions even more welcome.