Human Languages with Linux

[Made in DNA]

Hello,

I live in Japan and I would like to install Japanese Linux onto my machine, but I'm afraid my English software would no longer run. I, of course, wouldn't mind installing English Linux if I knew it would run Japanese software.

I'm currently running Windows, but I think it's time to make the change. I'm having too many problems and I have been wanting to make the change for some time now.

Advice? Clue phones? Helpful pushes in the correct direction? Suggestions for long walks off short piers?

Best regards,
Made in DNA

[kshim5]

What you can try to do is install multiple accounts with different language settings for each individual account on the same computer.

[Made in DNA]

I see. Very convenient. If I may further probe you for answers though... which language should I start out with: Japanese? English? And if I do so, would I need to install language packages? Or does Linux include multiple language encodings out of the box?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Made in DNA

[CMonster]

I, of course, wouldn't mind installing English Linux if I knew it would run Japanese software. If the "Japanese software" is designed for Linux it would seem to be simply a matter of having the correct font packages available -the opposite should also be true.

I don't know about Japanese Linux, but I have seen Hancom Linux OS (http://www.hancom.co.jp) works well with either language english/korean software (However, I wouldn't hold my breath for a decent Ni-Hon-gho version of Linux coming from the kan-ku-jin any time soon )

I hear LindowsOS (http://www.lindows.com) will soon be available in Japanese (maybe already) but I never used Lindows and wouldn't recommend them for other reasons as well.

[kshim5]

I see. Very convenient. If I may further probe you for answers though... which language should I start out with: Japanese? English? And if I do so, would I need to install language packages? Or does Linux include multiple language encodings out of the box?


which language should I start out with: Japanese? English?

Start with wich ever language you are comfortable speaking. More than likely it would be your native language.

would I need to install language packages?
yes they should be available on the your distribution disk if im not mistaken but everything should be available on the distros website or you can check www.google.com/linux

here is a little tutorial i found on the subject
http://www.linux.org.il/faq/cache/107.html