Bitcoin-qt unwanted translations

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Since I added a Hebrew translation (starting with 0.6.0), I received multiple complaints that the client now defaults to Hebrew and that this is unwanted. There is no clear indication of how to change the language (which I now know to be with the -lang parameter). The default language is decided by the dates format rather than the OS interface language (I would have complained too, if I had bothered to change the format when I installed the OS).

Do similar complaints exist in other languages? Maybe the problem is more pronounced for Hebrew because of the non-latin characters and the right-to-left direction (which QT doesn't handle properly, and even if handled properly doesn't mix well with some technical terms).

How can this problem be resolved? A few possible solutions, which I don't know if are technically possible:

1. Make the default language derive from the OS interface language.

2. Allow choosing the language on installation, and changing it from the GUI.

3. Document the -lang parameter more prominently.

4. Default to English and let the user change it if wanted.

[apetersson]

I'd vote for option 2 and keep default installation language English.
i don't particularly like my German translation - its correct but it just does not fit very well.

[ShadesOfMarble]

Same here. Option 2 would be great.