A semantic approach to CSS2 specs translation

Hi all!
As far as you know, I'm translating the CSS2 specs in italian.
a common problem risen through the years is that italian users are
accustomed to read the
specs in English, but they don't understand them very well. Common issues
are: "I've read the specs but i don't understand them very much" or "I've
read the specs and I've tried to built a layout with a fixed menu. why
Internet Explorer scolls the menu?" or "the language used is too difficult"
and so on. other common issues depend on the very poor knowledge of English
in Italy. so, here's an approach:

1. establish the semantic area of the specs:

a) macro semantic area: internet language
b) micro semantic area: technical language
c) target audience:
    - developers
    - webmasters
    - designers
    -common users

2. the role of translator:

[start language] >> translator >> [target language]

points in brackets are defined sets of semantic areas. the point without
brackets is an undefined semantic area, just because
it depends on several factors related to the personal forma mentis of
translator.

Collecting the points 1 & 2, I decided to write a translation strictly
related to the semantic areas of the original. there are 6 steps in
translation:

1) translate it literally, word by word
2) translate it loosely, catching the meaning of the original
3) final translation: step 1+ step 2
4) revision according to references, such as the guide of Eric Meyer for a
proper translation of the terms
5) revision according to semantic areas quoted above
6) revision according to suggestions of w3c list

A common issue is related to the target language. Italian is not so rich as
English, especially in technical language (diaphasic area, i. e. "slang").
So I decided to put the original term in brackets (only when it's necessary
for the comprehension of the text):

riquadrato [<i>box</i>]

to make people who are accustomed to English terms to understand the text.

I've found a good reference at
http://www.osservatoriosullacomunicazione.com/w3c/rec-css1.html

I hope I've not bothered you too much. bye all!

Gabriele Romanato

-- 
http://gabrieleromanato.altervista.org/css/