CONTEXT

In a world of digital divide and globalisation of culure, the languages of smaller nations and peoples are threatened of being pushed to the cultural margins. The mass use of English-languaged software hinders the development of the local languages and introduces many foreign words into them. On the other hand, the computer users in Bulgaria are predominantly not fluent in Englsih which in turn hinders their computer knowledge.

These are the issues addressed by the localisers, which try both to preserve the Bulgarian language and to make computers accessible by more users. Very often localisers work on separate projects and rarely cooperate. This leads to many problems, such as the lack of common standards for translation.

OBJECTIVE

It is to gather representatives from the main projects for translation and localization of software in Bulgaria, as well as volunteers who are willing to join some of the teams. Another important objective is to raise the public awareness about the goals and problems of localization.

PROGRAMME

The programme is being detailed now, but we would like to cover:

Presentation of the OpenOffice.org Translation Project
Speaker: Hristo Hristov
Duration 15 min.

Presentation of KDE Translation project
Speaker: Wanted
Duration 15 min.

Presentation of the GNOME Translation project
Speaker: Vladimir Petkov
Duration: 15 min.

Introduction to GPI Translation in Bulgarian

PARTICIPANTS

Here is a short list of people that have confirmed participation.
The organisers will try to attract representatives of the main projects for application of free software in the Government administration and NGO sector. The capacity is 50 people. Current number of participants 16.

Alexander Shopov, project leader GNOME in Bulgarian!
Vladimir Petkov, GNOME in Bulgarian!
Yassen Pramatarov, GNOME in Bulgarian!
Rostislav Raykov, GNOME in Bulgarian!
Vladimira Girginova, GNOME in Bulgarian!

Hristo Hristov, project leader for translation of OpenOffice.org
Mikhail Balabanov, , translator and author of specifications for software translation
Sergey Dimitrov, translator in the Open Office.org Translation team

Yulia Velkova, Internet Society, Bulgaria, translator of gThumb
Dragoslava Pefeva, Internet Society, Bulgaria, project coordinator of Creative Commons in Bulgarian

Petko Durmana, Director, InterSpace Media Art Centre
Galina Dimitrova, InterSpace Media Art Centre, editor in chief of Cult.bg Server for Arts and Culture
Maya Ivanova, InterSpace Media Art Centre

Kristina Haralanova, Internet Rights Foundation, Bulgaria, translator of SPIP (http://www/spip.net) - CMS
Matthew Lyutfi, Internet Rights Foundation, Bulgaria

Ivelina Karcheva, MA in English Studies
Rossen Karpuzov, CEO, Confidential Information Technologies (http://www.cointech.net)
Kiril Slavov
Petar Velikov, translator of Mozilla and Firefox

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Everybody. Localisers, volunteers, donors, users and implementers. To register for participation send an email to vpetkov@i-space.org

February 26 (Saturday) 2005, 10.30 a.m.
The Red House Centre for Culture and Debate, Gulliver hall
Free entrance

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