You've hit on a really important point about mod/CC management, especially in games with active modding communities! It's definitely frustrating to accidentally install a translation you don't understand. Here's a breakdown of the issue and some potential solutions, both for players and developers: e-zpassct

The Problem:

Lack of Clear Language Identification: Many mods/CC don't explicitly state the language of their text strings in a prominent way. Often, it's buried in file names, descriptions, or not mentioned at all.

Combined Packages: Some mod/CC creators bundle multiple language translations into a single package file. This forces users to download and install all translations, even if they only need one.

File Name Ambiguity: File names might use abbreviations or language codes that aren't universally understood.

Community-Driven Translations: Translations are often created by community members, and quality control or standardization isn't always enforced.

Potential Solutions (for Players):

Careful File Inspection:

Always check the mod/CC description for language information.

Look for language codes (e.g., "en" for English, "fr" for French, "es" for Spanish, "pl" for Polish) in file names.

If possible, open the package file (using tools like Sims4Studio for The Sims 4) and inspect the text strings before installing.

Community Forums and Resources:

Check forums and communities where the mod/CC was shared. Users often discuss language options and potential issues.

Look for dedicated translation projects or patches.

Mod Managers with Language Filters:

If a mod manager supports it, request or look for features that allow filtering mods/CC by language.

This would require the mod manager to be able to read the files, and determine the language.

Organized Folders:

Once you do find out what languages a mod has, you can organize your mods into folders by language. This will help you find the correct language within your game.

Potential Solutions (for Mod/CC Creators):

Clear Language Tagging:

Include a clear and consistent language tag in the mod/CC's file name or description (e.g., "modname_en.package," "modname_fr.package").

Use standard language codes (ISO 639-1).

Separate Language Packages:

Provide separate download links for each language translation whenever possible.

This allows users to download only the languages they need.

Readme Files with Language Information:

Include a readme file with detailed information about the mod/CC, including a list of available languages.

Standardized File Structure:

If possible, create a standardized file structure within the mod/CC package that clearly separates language files.

Metadata:

If a mod distribution platform is used, use the metadata features to tag the mod with the correct language.

Future Considerations:

Game developers could provide better support for language management within the game itself.

Modding tools could be enhanced to provide language detection and filtering features.

It's a community effort, and increased awareness of the problem will hopefully lead to better practices and tools.