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  3. English speakers of the fedi.

English speakers of the fedi.

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  • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

    English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

    Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

    #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

    ylyej@mastodon.bahia.noY This user is from outside of this forum
    ylyej@mastodon.bahia.noY This user is from outside of this forum
    ylyej@mastodon.bahia.no
    wrote last edited by
    #6

    @hobbs ajuda aqui

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    • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

      English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

      Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

      #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

      hecate@merveilles.townH This user is from outside of this forum
      hecate@merveilles.townH This user is from outside of this forum
      hecate@merveilles.town
      wrote last edited by
      #7

      @eltonfc
      I'm influenced by translations to my native language, which use the infinitive

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

        English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

        Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

        #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

        rmtakata@bertha.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
        rmtakata@bertha.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
        rmtakata@bertha.social
        wrote last edited by
        #8

        @eltonfc Uma subquestão: imperativo pra quem? Pro usuário ou pro sistema?

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        • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

          Iff English is your second language, how are these verbs tusually translated to *your* language in software interfaces?

          mk_rexx@metalhead.clubM This user is from outside of this forum
          mk_rexx@metalhead.clubM This user is from outside of this forum
          mk_rexx@metalhead.club
          wrote last edited by
          #9

          @eltonfc That's the neat part! They don't.

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          • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

            @aarbrk in that case, X would be a verb in the infinitive.

            mk_rexx@metalhead.clubM This user is from outside of this forum
            mk_rexx@metalhead.clubM This user is from outside of this forum
            mk_rexx@metalhead.club
            wrote last edited by
            #10

            @eltonfc @aarbrk ESL here. Did I understood it right, something like "save file" or "undo changes" would be imperative?

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

              Iff English is your second language, how are these verbs tusually translated to *your* language in software interfaces?

              jenesuispasgoth@pouet.chapril.orgJ This user is from outside of this forum
              jenesuispasgoth@pouet.chapril.orgJ This user is from outside of this forum
              jenesuispasgoth@pouet.chapril.org
              wrote last edited by
              #11

              @eltonfc I mean, if by infinitive you mean it has to have "to" on front of the verb ("to save" etc.), then mechanically, the English version is "imperative," while my interpretation is "infinitive" because in French it's translated as such.

              If not, then it's infinitive for both.

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              • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                machinelordzero@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                machinelordzero@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                machinelordzero@mastodon.social
                wrote last edited by
                #12

                @eltonfc Native, imperative. I tell the computer what to do, it does it, else there is a problem.

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                • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                  English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                  Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                  #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                  r1rail@pouet.chapril.orgR This user is from outside of this forum
                  r1rail@pouet.chapril.orgR This user is from outside of this forum
                  r1rail@pouet.chapril.org
                  wrote last edited by
                  #13

                  @eltonfc I may be biased, because in French imperative and infinitive are different, and menu entries use infinitive

                  tarmil@mastodon.tarmil.frT 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                    English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                    Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                    #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                    dereisenhofer@metalhead.clubD This user is from outside of this forum
                    dereisenhofer@metalhead.clubD This user is from outside of this forum
                    dereisenhofer@metalhead.club
                    wrote last edited by
                    #14

                    @eltonfc I read it kind of both. Interesting.

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                    • aarbrk@mstdn.mxA aarbrk@mstdn.mx

                      @eltonfc I'm having trouble answering this question. I think my interpretation is more like a statement of intention (I seek to X).

                      chtixof@mamot.frC This user is from outside of this forum
                      chtixof@mamot.frC This user is from outside of this forum
                      chtixof@mamot.fr
                      wrote last edited by
                      #15

                      @aarbrk @eltonfc
                      IMHO, you wrote it: "to X" ➡️ infinitive 😉

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                      • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                        English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                        Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                        #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                        dveditz@infosec.exchangeD This user is from outside of this forum
                        dveditz@infosec.exchangeD This user is from outside of this forum
                        dveditz@infosec.exchange
                        wrote last edited by
                        #16

                        @eltonfc
                        before GUI we had a "command line interface" where you quite literally gave the computer "commands". How could they be anything other than imperative?

                        lritter@mastodon.gamedev.placeL 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • dveditz@infosec.exchangeD dveditz@infosec.exchange

                          @eltonfc
                          before GUI we had a "command line interface" where you quite literally gave the computer "commands". How could they be anything other than imperative?

                          lritter@mastodon.gamedev.placeL This user is from outside of this forum
                          lritter@mastodon.gamedev.placeL This user is from outside of this forum
                          lritter@mastodon.gamedev.place
                          wrote last edited by
                          #17

                          @dveditz @eltonfc a lot of these menu options lead to places though, dialogs. so you're figuratively entering a conversation. a command line rarely does that. your instructions are expected to be complete.

                          dveditz@infosec.exchangeD 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                            English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                            Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                            #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                            H This user is from outside of this forum
                            H This user is from outside of this forum
                            hiddenalpha@mastodon.social
                            wrote last edited by
                            #18

                            @eltonfc
                            "Format" looks like an outlier. I read it as a noun 🙃

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                            • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                              English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                              Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                              #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                              jubalbarca@scholar.socialJ This user is from outside of this forum
                              jubalbarca@scholar.socialJ This user is from outside of this forum
                              jubalbarca@scholar.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #19

                              @eltonfc I'm not sure I really read them as either, though infinitive has to be closer I guess. The edit button is The Edit Button, it probably opens the Edit Menu, and so by using it I am not in my brain expressing any view or command about whether I want to edit or am commanding an edit, I am just trying to access or perhaps ascertain that particular software feature which may or may not be tied to what I'd think of as editing.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                                English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                                Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                                #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                                brad@1040ste.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                                brad@1040ste.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                                brad@1040ste.net
                                wrote last edited by
                                #20

                                @eltonfc Depends to some degree - if the menu is hierarchical then non-leaf options or those leading to dialogues (usually marked with an ellipsis) are infinitive and leaf options without an ellipsis are imperative, to me.

                                mattdm@hachyderm.ioM 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • r1rail@pouet.chapril.orgR r1rail@pouet.chapril.org

                                  @eltonfc I may be biased, because in French imperative and infinitive are different, and menu entries use infinitive

                                  tarmil@mastodon.tarmil.frT This user is from outside of this forum
                                  tarmil@mastodon.tarmil.frT This user is from outside of this forum
                                  tarmil@mastodon.tarmil.fr
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #21

                                  @R1Rail @eltonfc And it's far from the only situation where English used the imperative and French uses the infinitive. Recipes are another example.

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                                  • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                                    English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: "do this") or as an infinitive (the "base form" of the verb, like "to do this")?

                                    Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language?

                                    #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

                                    krnlg@mastodon.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                                    krnlg@mastodon.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                                    krnlg@mastodon.social
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #22

                                    @eltonfc
                                    Interesting that I'm (so far) in the minority with Native+Imperative. But when learning (badly, in school) French the main thing that never entirely clicked for me was the whole "To Do", "To Read" thing as an actual word form so maybe I just don't get something fundamental here 🙂

                                    krnlg@mastodon.socialK 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • eltonfc@bertha.socialE eltonfc@bertha.social

                                      Iff English is your second language, how are these verbs tusually translated to *your* language in software interfaces?

                                      rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR This user is from outside of this forum
                                      rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR This user is from outside of this forum
                                      rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.place
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #23

                                      @eltonfc Yes

                                      rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.place

                                        @eltonfc Yes

                                        rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR This user is from outside of this forum
                                        rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.placeR This user is from outside of this forum
                                        rc_1290@mastodon.gamedev.place
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #24

                                        @eltonfc also, it's more and more likely to have a machine translation, in which case the answer is "poorly".

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • krnlg@mastodon.socialK krnlg@mastodon.social

                                          @eltonfc
                                          Interesting that I'm (so far) in the minority with Native+Imperative. But when learning (badly, in school) French the main thing that never entirely clicked for me was the whole "To Do", "To Read" thing as an actual word form so maybe I just don't get something fundamental here 🙂

                                          krnlg@mastodon.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                                          krnlg@mastodon.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                                          krnlg@mastodon.social
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #25

                                          @eltonfc
                                          To me, the menu item is moooostly a command to do the thing or open the dialog. There is an element of "I click this to do the thing" but it doesn't feel like a separate thing to me, it doesn't really feel like different grammar at all. And the menu options don't say "To Format" so it doesn't mean "To Format".

                                          As you might guess, I never really "got" grammar at school even in English classes 🙂

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