(last edited on April 29, 2014 at 1:25 am)
I’m trying to power through some dormant projects today. First up: Translations of the ETP.
One of the difficult parts of this has been that English can be a surprisingly compact language, and volunteer translators have universally reported that it’s difficult to fit the translated text into the available space.
The three most problematic passages are:
- THE EMERGENT TASK PLANNER
ORGANIZE YOUR DAY AS IT HAPPENS! QUICK START: List 3 things to do, estimate time in 15min blocks. Fill bubbles to track time. Use Day Grid (left side) for scheduling. Keep notes as necessary.
Life just happens. Use this area to keep notes on the unexpected. Use numbers to label day grid as needed.
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p>So, I just made an executive decision for case 2 and 3: truncate text if it doesn’t fit. In cases 2 and 3, the trailing sentences are not quite as important, so I think I can remove them without losing too much. If you disagree, let me know.
There’s not much I can do about the title, so I try to wriggle the text around so everything fits.
On a side note, the most important consideration, as far as I’m concerned, is retaining the “spirit” of the form:
- It’s encouraging and informal, like a friend
- It’s as succinct as possible, while still providing an idea of what to do
- It suggests immediate action NOW without crossing the line of being preachy or judgmental
Here are the current drafts of the most recent translations from helpful readers (thanks, guys!) I’m posting these drafts so other native speakers can weigh-in on the accurancy of translation and suggest changes.
In the order I’ve received translations, here are the new languages:
There are already finished translations for French, German, and Dutch on the Emergent Task Planner Page.
If you have a comment on the translation, please note the country you are from with regards to the use of language. Thanks to Giacomo, Giovanni, Katerina, Matias, and Joaquín for your submissions!
3 Comments
The portuguese translation is not so clear, at least for brazilian portuguese, contains some literal translations and some parts were missed, follows my own translation:
THE EMERGENT TASK PLANNER instructions available at davidseah.com/pceo/etp
PLANEJAMENTO DAS TAREFAS EMERGENTES instruções disponíveis em davidseah.com/pceo/etp
ORGANIZE YOUR DAY AS IT HAPPENS! QUICK START: List 3 things to do, estimate time in 15min blocks. Fill bubbles to track time. Use Day Grid (left side) for scheduling. Keep notes as necessary
ORGANIZE SEU DIA EM BLOCOS DE TAREFAS! PRA COMEÇAR: Indique 3 coisas à fazer, estimando o tempo em blocos de 15 minutos. Preencha os quadrados para marcar o tempo. Use a grade do dia (à esquerda) para agendar. Utilize lembretes se necessário
Task description. Indent for subtask Descrição da tarefa. Identar sub-tarefas.
Track 15min/bubble. Mark estimate with vertical line. Total time São 15min cada quadrado. Marque o tempo estimado com uma linha vertical. Tempo total
Tackling more than three major tasks? Clear your mind and go for it Tem de enfrentar mais do que 3 tarefas? Esfrie a cabeça e vá em frente
More than six major tasks? Reserve some energy for tomorrow Mais do que seis tarefas? Guarde nergia pro dia seguinte
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON TODAY? Life just happens. Use this area to keep notes on the unexpected. Use numbers to label day grid as needed.
O QUE IRÁ OCORRER HOJE? Tudo pode acontecer. Use esta área para lembretes inesperados. Use os números pra marcar na grade do dia se necessário
Some mistakes: wheres is write nergia the correct is energia, and where is O QUE IRÁ OCORRER HOJE? the correct is O QUE MAIS IRÁ OCORRER HOJE? Sorry
Two corrections for the Spanish text: The first square “feche” must be “fecha”. And “Y qué mas para hoy?” must be “¿Y qué más para hoy?.
Thanks for your work, thoughts and generosity.