MJ Ray, 2003-09-22 10:30:19 +0200 : > On 2003-09-22 06:58:19 +0100 Mathieu Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Since Debian use the translation "Logiciel" for Debian French pages, >> it means that the word software must be clearly defined by Debian. > > If "logiciel" truly does not mean the same as the English word > "software," then it should probably be reported as a bug against > Debian's French translation when used in its place.
It does mean the same as "software", or at least the same as the Debian definition of software: - it can be opposed to "matériel" (hardware -- compare "matière", matter); - it can be used as an adjective, for instance "sous forme logicielle", meaning "in a software form", thus matching the "every collection of bits on a computer" definition; - "un logiciel" can even be used to mean "a software program", whereas the phrase "a software" sounds awkward to me in English (but then again, I'm not a native English speaker, and maybe "software" is a countable noun -- can you say "two softwares"?). > (I think that "programaro" (group around programs AIUI, translated > by some as collection of programs) or "softvaro" (imported word) > should be used instead of "programo" (lit. program) for its EO > translation.) I have no real clue about EO yet, but that sounds reasonable. Roland. -- Roland Mas When I eat a biscuit, it stays eaten! -- Arthur Dent, in So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (Douglas Adams)
