To install an additional language, proceed as follows:
1. As root, start YaST.
2. Select System > Language.
3. Select the desired languages from the list of languages offered in Secondary Languages. When you leave this dialog with Ok, YaST installs the additional localized software packages. The system is multilingual, but you need to set the desired language explicitly to start an application in a language other than the primary one.
4. To make this language the default (the primary language), select it under Primary Language:
1. Adapt the keyboard to the new primary language and adjust the time zone, if appropriate.
2. Select Details to change language settings specific to root and to determine the exact locale:
Locale Settings for User root
ctype only adjusts the LC_TYPE variable in /etc/sysconfig/language for root, which sets the localization for language-specific function calls. yes sets the language for root to the same as the language for local users. no means the language settings for root are not affected by language changes. All locale values remain unset.
Use UTF-8 Encoding
Disable this box, if you do not want to use UTF-8 encoding for root.
Detailed Locale Setting
If your locale was not included in the list of primary languages available, try explicitly specifying it here. However, some of these localizations may be incomplete.
5. Leave this dialog and apply your settings with Ok.
Switching the system language is similar to installing additional languages. Use the YaST language module to change the primary language and to adjust keyboard and time zone. Once YaST has applied your changes and any open X sessions have been restarted, YaST, applications, and the desktop reflect your new language settings.
