Consider adjustments to nomenclature to better describe and distinguish features
On a lot of our UI nomenclature was decided in an early state of development. Some of the terms do not match that well because the feature evolved over time. Some other terms never really were a perfect match, they were just words which first came into mind and used just to have something to distinguish functionality. Also, in some cases our terms do not match the terms which are common for the domain.
If there is a common used term from the domain, then it should be used so users can more easily recognize the intend of a feature.
Sometimes it can also be an option to use the a concrete, physical object instead of an abstract term to describe a feature. For example, most operating systems have a desktop. Instead of "deleted files" a "Recycle bin" is quite common. Another good example is the shopping cart and actions like "Zur Kasse gehen". Metaphors are used in these cases to describe a feature or action by using a physical object everybody is familiar with.
Here a list of terms we currently used for our features which do not match with the domain terminology
- Comments
- The term comment has been chosen back when there wasn't any option add answers. It replaced the previous term (interposed or audience) question which lead to confusion because it collided with (skill or lecture) questions.
- Comment now kind of understates our feature - it is much more powerful
- Q&A is the commonly used name for features like ours
- Unfortunately, Q&A doesn't translate that well into German. AFAIK F&A isn't that often used in comparison to the English variant (we might just use the English acronym for German as well).
- Also, Q&A cannot be used to describe a single item ("Create/View/Delete a new ..."), another word is still needed here.
- Another solution could be the use of a metaphor as described above. Our comment feature with different categories is very similar to a pinboard. A pinboard is usually open for everyone and it wouldn't care if you pin comments or questions.
- (edit Jun 28th) "Post"/"Beitrag" could be used for actions involving a single comment.
- Content/Question collection
- Collection is quite abstract and the word doesn't explain the feature very well for users which haven't used it. It is not a term that is commonly used in this domain.
- The term collection could also describe many other things, e.g. a pool of questions which are shared by multiple users.
- A domain-specific term would be Question series ("Fragenserie").
- "Series"
- Formats
- Free text / Freitext
- More common domain-specific term: Open question / Offene Frage
- Free text / Freitext
While those changes make it easier for new users, they require existing users to adopt to them. If we use terms which are common in the domain of our users this shouldn't be a too much of an issue. Still, we need to be careful and especially make sure that the new terms will still be appropriate with the introduction of features we have planned for the future.
Discussion results
- Comments
- Use "Post"/"Beitrag" for single items.
- Use "Q&A" for the feature.
- Content groups
- Rename to "Question series".
- Free text
- Rename to "Open question"
Open discussions
- Contents
- Rename single items from "question" to "content"? The context would be clear when used with "question series".
Related: #724 (closed)