Follow these steps to translate on Betawiki:
- register or log in to Betawiki
- remember that this will be the name which will be added to the MediaWiki software files ("@author YourUsername")
- create a user page with some information and links (what language you are going to translate, ...)
- set your user interface to the language you will be working on
- find out if your language has already some maintainers on the language status page
- if your language has maintainers, contact them and ask how you can help
- if not, you can take over maintenance of your language. Read the documentation and add details to the status page
- You may want to ask for the messages of your project to be imported. You can request this on the Tasks page.
- ask for translator privileges
- if your knowledge of English isn't that good, you can request for language(s) to be added above the edit form to help you (example)
- start translating at Special:Translate
[edit] Offline translation
In Special:Translate you can export a message group to a .po file, and work on that offline. Make sure you save the .po file as UTF-8! Return it to "betawiki AT xs4all DOT nl" and make sure to note what your Betawiki username is – all changes will be attributed to it. More is explained on Translating:Offline
[edit] Recommended process
Make sure you have set your language preference to the language you will be working on.
- first translate the most often used messages[1]
- complete the core messages[2]
- check if you should translate any optional messages[3]
- do a consistency check (terminology, formal/informal) on your localisation
- translate the extension messages used in Wikimedia wikis[4]
- translate the remaining remaining extension messages[5]
- do a consistency check (terminology, formal/informal) on your localisation between core messages and extension messages
- start maintaining your language's localisation on a regular basis. At least once per month is recommended.
Read on if you want to know more. Reading on is not required, although advised for a proper understanding of more advanced localisation features. You could spend a few days translating, though, and come back when you think you need more information.
Remember: translate links, namespaces, and messages as they are and do not deviate from the source message more than needed!