diff --git a/bin/addons/base/__openerp__.py b/bin/addons/base/__openerp__.py
index bb419fc90d3..1c94d6b90b8 100644
--- a/bin/addons/base/__openerp__.py
+++ b/bin/addons/base/__openerp__.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@
         'test/test_context.xml',
         'test/bug_lp541545.xml',
         'test/test_osv_expression.yml',
+        'test/test_translation.yml',
     ],
     'installable': True,
     'active': True,
diff --git a/bin/addons/base/test/test_translation.yml b/bin/addons/base/test/test_translation.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..602e3ea3d7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/addons/base/test/test_translation.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+-   |
+    Test the translation mechanism by synchronizing a dummy language and
+    checking its views.
+-
+    Install dummy language xx_XX
+-
+    !python {model: base.language.install }: |
+        import tools.test_translate
+        tools.test_translate.install_dummy_language(cr, uid)
+-
+    Check views using dummy language xx_XX
+-
+    !python {model: res.lang }: |
+        import tools.test_translate
+        tools.test_translate.check_all_views(cr, uid)
diff --git a/bin/tools/test_translate.py b/bin/tools/test_translate.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..245473859c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/tools/test_translate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+##############################################################################
+#
+#    OpenERP, Open Source Management Solution
+#    Copyright (C) 2011 OpenERP s.a. (<http://openerp.com>).
+#
+#    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+#    it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+#    published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+#    License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+#    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+#    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+#    GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+#    You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+#    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+##############################################################################
+
+""" Helper functions for translation testing.
+"""
+
+import pooler
+import logging
+
+def install_dummy_language(cr, uid):
+    """ Install a dummy language xx_XX and synchronize it (create all terms).
+    """
+
+    pool = pooler.get_pool(cr.dbname)
+    res_lang = pool.get('res.lang')
+    base_update_translations = pool.get('base.update.translations')
+
+    # create xx_XX if it doesn't exist yet.
+    ids = res_lang.search(cr, uid, [('code', '=', 'xx_XX')])
+    if not ids:
+        res_lang.create(cr, uid, {'code': 'xx_XX', 'iso_code': 'xx', 'name': 'Dummy Language', 'translatable': True})
+
+    # create base.update.translations if it doesn't exist yet.
+    ids = base_update_translations.search(cr, uid, [('lang', '=', 'xx_XX')])
+    id = 0
+    if not ids:
+        id = base_update_translations.create(cr, uid, {'lang': 'xx_XX'})
+    else:
+        id = ids[0]
+
+    # synchronize xx_XX
+    print base_update_translations.act_update(cr, uid, [id])
+
+    # add marks on all xx_XX terms
+    cr.execute(u"update ir_translation set value='⟨⟨'||value||'⟩⟩' where lang='xx_XX'")
+
+def has_marks(s):
+  return s[:2] == u"⟨⟨" and s[-2:] == u"⟩⟩"
+
+def check_all_views(cr, uid):
+    pool = pooler.get_pool(cr.dbname)
+    ir_ui_view = pool.get('ir.ui.view')
+
+    ids = ir_ui_view.search(cr, uid, [])
+    for view in ir_ui_view.browse(cr, uid, ids):
+        check_view(cr, uid, view.id, view.model)
+
+def check_view(cr, uid, view_id, view_model):
+    pool = pooler.get_pool(cr.dbname)
+    model = pool.get(view_model)
+    if not model:
+        return
+
+    log = logging.getLogger('tools.test_translate')
+
+    o = model.fields_view_get(cr, uid, view_id, 'tree', {'lang': 'xx_XX'})
+
+    arch = o['arch']
+    # TODO check translation in arch (see trans_parse_view in bin/tools/translate.py,
+    # search views, ...
+    # TODO it happens that o['view_id'] != view_id...
+    fields = o['fields']
+    checked_fields = 0
+    for k, v in fields.items():
+        checked_fields = checked_fields + 1
+        if v.has_key('string') and not has_marks(v['string']):
+            print "string not translated in %s / %s / %s (view_id: %s)" % (o['model'], o['name'], o['type'], o['view_id'])
+        if v.has_key('help') and not has_marks(v['help']):
+            print "help not translated in %s / %s / %s (view_id: %s)" % (o['model'], o['name'], o['type'], o['view_id'])
+        if v.has_key('selection'):
+            for selk, selv in v['selection']:
+                if not has_marks(selv):
+                    print "selection not translated in %s / %s / %s (view_id: %s)" % (o['model'], o['name'], o['type'], o['view_id'])
+                    break
+    #print "%s fields checked for %s %s %s %s %s" % (checked_fields, o['model'], o['name'], o['type'], o['view_id'], view_id)
+