If you go in WordPress to WPML - string translation - translation complete, then you see the language structure of the site. The original language of the site is at the moment Estonian and the Spanish and English are translated. How to change the original language to English?
The default/original language can be changed but it is not something that we recommend. Our recommendation is to start with the correct language from the very beginning and stick to it.
*Note: If you are going to do that, please first create a full website backup.
In order to change the default language from Estonian to English you can follow these steps:
1. Go to WPML > Language > Site Languages
2. Click on "Change Default Language" button and Switch to the one that you want
3. Go to WP > Settings > Permalinks > Resave Permalinks.
After those steps, English should switch as your original language on the website.
I did it. The default language is changed, but the result is not what I wanted. At the moment changed ony the language when the site is opened. At the moment if you go to the site then it is automatically in English - although it should be (and was earlier) automatically in Spanish. But in the section of string translation nothing changed, there still the original language is Estonian - but this is what we wanted to have in English! Did we do smt. wrong?
I apologize for my misunderstanding.
You can switch back to the configuration I suggested before (following the same steps you did).
To change the original language for the strings, please follow these steps:
- Go to WPML > String Translation.
- Select the string(s) you want to change the original language for by - using the checkbox to the left of the string(s).
- Scroll down to the bottom of the strings list.
- Find the button "Change language of selected strings".
- Change the language of the string(s) to the language you want.
Please understand that WPML is designed for translating words from one language to another. It's not meant to be used for changing the text in the original language of themes/plugins.
However, there is a workaround you can try, but it's not a standard solution and may not work with all themes or plugins.
Here's how to try "changing" the strings in the original language:
- Go to WPML -> Languages -> Add New Language. Add any random language.
- Scroll down to section "Hide language" section and check the checkbox next to the language you added
- Click "Save" to hide the language you just added.
- Go back to WPML -> String Translation. Select the string you want to change.
- Change the language of the string to the hidden language you added.
Now you should have an option to “translate” it on the original language of the theme/plugin.
Please note: This is not a recommended solution and may not work with all themes or plugins.
Also, can you please share WPML support debug information from your site?
- To give debug information, login to your site and go to WPML -> Support. From there click on the “debug information” link at the bottom of the page.
- Once on the “debug information” page, select the entire text box content and copy it.
- Now go back to our support forum, find the debug information box, and paste it.
I am not sure if it's good idea. What is the end result of this workaround? The newly added hidden language will stay there forever or I can delete it later?
And my theme is Sage v 9.0.9 - do you know how to change the string source language there?
And the workaround is not working. I added the German language, then hidden it. And in the string translation still the word can not be changed. Like to see in the screenshots.
The idea of the workaround suggested, is to use the new added hidden language as a reference in order to give you to possibility to "translate/change" the original text from the theme/plugin. The newly added language will need to stay in order for this solution to work out as descibbed.
As I mentioned before WPML doesn't change the text of themes/plugins, that's why even in the new added language stays the same.
About you question related to changing the string source language on the theme, I would suggest you check with the theme author/documentation on how it was build and how you can achieved the string change.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Marsel
But one question more - can I copy a language from one site to another? I mean if I have two sites which are exactly the same. For example sexomundo.es and sekskohting.ee. The sexomundo.ee is at the moment available in ES and EN, and the sekskohting.ee is available in EE, EN und RU. If I would like for example, to get the sexomundo.es site in Russian as well, can I somehow take the Russian language from sekskkohting.ee site and copy it automatically over? All the menus, categories and strings are in case of both of the sites in the same place.
I am afraid that there is no automated solution available yet to automatically copy one language translation from one website to another, you could check if using the plugins from the links below can help achieve what you want, keep in mind that manual work would be required in both cases.
IMPORTANT: I would suggest you first test those plugins in a staging site to see if they work for your situation before trying on a live site. Please make sure you have a full backup of your website(files and database) before making any changes or trying anything on your production/live website/s.
* You can export/import translations for the strings(if the websites have the same theme/plugins in use) by using the Export/Import options in WPML-> String translations.
