Linspire, the old Lindows, has got a Web-based application that is supposed to let volunteers translate Linspire’s Linux distribution into 80 different languages although currently the thing appears to only support 21.

It’s called IRMA, short for the International Resource Management Application, and quite frankly one shudders at what could result.

The company says 200 people, representing 35 languages, have signed on already.

Volunteers are supposed to pick the code strings they want to translate. The system reportedly prompts the translators if certain words or phrases have already been translated.

Linspire says checks will be put in place to control the quality of the translations.

It says that when 25 or more volunteers are translating in a particular language, they will work in a double-blind system, where two people translate the same text and have their translations checked against the other. When translations match, they will be used. If they do not match, the lead translator will reconcile the situation.

Languages that don’t have enough translators for the double-blind checks will be reviewed by language managers, who will edit the translations for consistency and accuracy, Linspire said.

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