Re: German

[Bernd Hutschenreuther <Bernd -dot- Hutschenreuther -at- net-linx -dot- de>]

Hi,

the translation also depends on the kind of document.

For example, when you translate programming manuals, or when you translate 
procedures, you should not translate the keywords, used by the interpreter 
or compiler.
In the example of DataOwner:

If it is a field in a database table and you want to translate it, you 
should keep the original word and add the translation, this means, give a 
glossary.

On the screen for the user, there should only be German words, usually, the 
screen labels should be translated.

Very often, you can omit the article. But the rules are difficult, indeed.
Usually, I would not mix German articles and English words, when the 
English word is not yet imported into the German  Language.

Example:

Field           Description
DataOwner       Eigentümer der Daten.

In other cases, you can translate the word.

Example:
Der Eigentümer der Daten benötigt ein Passwort. - The data owner needs a 
password.
(Here it is the owner of the data, not the name of the database, or a field 
in the database ...
In this case, you cannot omit the article.)

Some years ago, after installing a new screen driver, my computer did not 
work properly, because a translator translated a keyword in a text used in 
an .ini file. The program searched for the English word.

So I think, communication is very important in such cases.

Note: When you translate for example online help, take care on the hyperlinks.

Best regards
and greetings from Dresden
Bernd Hutschenreuther

PS: If you want to know more about articles in German language, read "The 
awful German Language" by Mark Twain.
http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/awfgrmlg.html#x1
You will understand, that there are no fixed rules for articles.