diff --git a/src/bind_faction.c b/src/bind_faction.c
index e733f8525..a13c5f1f4 100644
--- a/src/bind_faction.c
+++ b/src/bind_faction.c
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ static int tolua_faction_create(lua_State * L)
   const char *email = tolua_tostring(L, 1, 0);
   const char *racename = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
   const char *lang = tolua_tostring(L, 3, 0);
-  struct locale *loc = find_locale(lang);
+  struct locale *loc = get_locale(lang);
   faction *f = NULL;
   const struct race *frace = rc_find(racename);
   if (frace != NULL) {
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ static int tolua_faction_set_locale(lua_State * L)
 {
   faction *self = (faction *) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
   const char *name = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
-  const struct locale *loc = find_locale(name);
+  const struct locale *loc = get_locale(name);
   if (loc) {
       self->locale = loc;
   }
diff --git a/src/bind_locale.c b/src/bind_locale.c
index dcfbd9206..a4c2ac0f0 100644
--- a/src/bind_locale.c
+++ b/src/bind_locale.c
@@ -2,18 +2,18 @@
 #include "util/language.h"
 
 void locale_create(const char *lang) {
-    make_locale(lang);
+    get_or_create_locale(lang);
 }
 
 void locale_set(const char *lang, const char *key, const char *str) {
-    struct locale *loc = find_locale(lang);
+    struct locale *loc = get_locale(lang);
     if (loc) {
         locale_setstring(loc, key, str);
     }
 }
 
 const char * locale_get(const char *lang, const char *key) {
-    struct locale *loc = find_locale(lang);
+    struct locale *loc = get_locale(lang);
     if (loc) {
         return locale_getstring(loc, key);
     }
diff --git a/src/bindings.c b/src/bindings.c
index aa863c34d..45e23207c 100755
--- a/src/bindings.c
+++ b/src/bindings.c
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ static int tolua_translate(lua_State * L)
 {
   const char *str = tolua_tostring(L, 1, 0);
   const char *lang = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
-  struct locale *loc = lang ? find_locale(lang) : default_locale;
+  struct locale *loc = lang ? get_locale(lang) : default_locale;
   if (loc) {
     str = locale_string(loc, str);
     tolua_pushstring(L, str);
diff --git a/src/creport.c b/src/creport.c
index 875c5e6e3..640427501 100644
--- a/src/creport.c
+++ b/src/creport.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static const char *crtag(const char *key)
 {
   static const struct locale *lang = NULL;
   if (!lang)
-    lang = find_locale(TAG_LOCALE);
+    lang = get_locale(TAG_LOCALE);
   return locale_string(lang, key);
 }
 #else
diff --git a/src/direction.c b/src/direction.c
index 95ad70926..ff437e937 100644
--- a/src/direction.c
+++ b/src/direction.c
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include "util/language.h"
 #include "util/umlaut.h"
 
+#include <string.h>
+
 void init_direction(const struct locale *lang, direction_t dir, const char *str) {
     void **tokens = get_translations(lang, UT_DIRECTIONS);
     variant token;
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ void init_directions(const struct locale *lang) {
     }
 }
 
-direction_t finddirection(const char *s, const struct locale *lang)
+direction_t get_direction(const char *s, const struct locale *lang)
 {
     void **tokens = get_translations(lang, UT_DIRECTIONS);
     variant token;
@@ -56,3 +58,17 @@ direction_t finddirection(const char *s, const struct locale *lang)
     return NODIRECTION;
 }
 
+direction_t finddirection(const char *str) {
+    int i;
+    for (i=0;i!=MAXDIRECTIONS+2;++i) {
+        if (directions[i] && strcmp(str, directions[i])==0) {
+            return (direction_t)i;
+        }
+    }
+    return NODIRECTION;
+}
+
+const char * directions[MAXDIRECTIONS+2] = {
+"northwest", "northeast", "east", "southeast", "southwest", "west", 0, "pause"
+};
+
diff --git a/src/direction.h b/src/direction.h
index 6919ecd44..e02b5f9f7 100644
--- a/src/direction.h
+++ b/src/direction.h
@@ -21,10 +21,14 @@ typedef enum {
     NODIRECTION = -1
 } direction_t; 
 
-direction_t finddirection(const char *s, const struct locale *);
+direction_t get_direction(const char *s, const struct locale *);
 void init_directions(const struct locale *lang);
 void init_direction(const struct locale *lang, direction_t dir, const char *str);
 
+direction_t finddirection(const char *str);
+
+extern const char * directions[];
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 #endif
 #endif
diff --git a/src/direction_test.c b/src/direction_test.c
index 409568fee..8552fa643 100644
--- a/src/direction_test.c
+++ b/src/direction_test.c
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ void test_init_directions(CuTest *tc) {
     struct locale *lang;
 
     test_cleanup();
-    lang = make_locale("en");
+    lang = get_or_create_locale("en");
     locale_setstring(lang, "dir_nw", "NW");
     init_directions(lang);
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, finddirection("nw", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, get_direction("nw", lang));
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
@@ -21,26 +21,39 @@ void test_init_direction(CuTest *tc) {
     struct locale *lang;
     test_cleanup();
 
-    lang = make_locale("de");
+    lang = get_or_create_locale("de");
     init_direction(lang, D_NORTHWEST, "NW");
     init_direction(lang, D_EAST, "OST");
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, finddirection("nw", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, finddirection("ost", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, finddirection("east", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, get_direction("nw", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, get_direction("ost", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, get_direction("east", lang));
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
-void test_finddirection_default(CuTest *tc) {
+void test_finddirection(CuTest *tc) {
+    test_cleanup();
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHWEST, finddirection("southwest"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHEAST, finddirection("southeast"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, finddirection("northwest"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHEAST, finddirection("northeast"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_WEST, finddirection("west"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, finddirection("east"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_PAUSE, finddirection("pause"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, finddirection(""));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, finddirection("potato"));
+}
+
+void test_get_direction_default(CuTest *tc) {
     struct locale *lang;
     test_cleanup();
-    lang = make_locale("en");
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, finddirection("potato", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHWEST, finddirection("southwest", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHEAST, finddirection("southeast", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, finddirection("northwest", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHEAST, finddirection("northeast", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_WEST, finddirection("west", lang));
-    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, finddirection("east", lang));
+    lang = get_or_create_locale("en");
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, get_direction("potato", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHWEST, get_direction("southwest", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_SOUTHEAST, get_direction("southeast", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, get_direction("northwest", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHEAST, get_direction("northeast", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_WEST, get_direction("west", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, get_direction("east", lang));
 }
 
 CuSuite *get_direction_suite(void)
@@ -48,7 +61,8 @@ CuSuite *get_direction_suite(void)
   CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
   SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_init_direction);
   SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_init_directions);
-  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_finddirection_default);
+  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_finddirection);
+  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_get_direction_default);
   return suite;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index b83d64f79..fb66782ac 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -1718,7 +1718,7 @@ int make_cmd(unit * u, struct order *ord)
     if (pl && fval(pl, PFL_NOBUILD)) {
       cmistake(u, ord, 275, MSG_PRODUCE);
     } else {
-      direction_t d = finddirection(getstrtoken(), u->faction->locale);
+      direction_t d = get_direction(getstrtoken(), u->faction->locale);
       if (d != NODIRECTION) {
         build_road(r, u, m, d);
       } else {
diff --git a/src/kernel/build.c b/src/kernel/build.c
index eb19505be..c1afdc02c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/build.c
+++ b/src/kernel/build.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ ship *getship(const struct region * r)
 
 static void destroy_road(unit * u, int nmax, struct order *ord)
 {
-  direction_t d = finddirection(getstrtoken(), u->faction->locale);
+  direction_t d = get_direction(getstrtoken(), u->faction->locale);
   unit *u2;
   region *r = u->region;
   short n = (short)nmax;
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.c b/src/kernel/config.c
index 465f20ef9..e9160fd37 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.c
+++ b/src/kernel/config.c
@@ -307,17 +307,6 @@ helpmode helpmodes[] = {
   {NULL, 0}
 };
 
-const char *directions[MAXDIRECTIONS + 2] = {
-  "northwest",
-  "northeast",
-  "east",
-  "southeast",
-  "southwest",
-  "west",
-  "",
-  "pause"
-};
-
 /** Returns the English name of the race, which is what the database uses.
  */
 const char *dbrace(const struct race *rc)
@@ -326,7 +315,7 @@ const char *dbrace(const struct race *rc)
   char *zPtr = zText;
 
   /* the english names are all in ASCII, so we don't need to worry about UTF8 */
-  strcpy(zText, (const char *)LOC(find_locale("en"), rc_name(rc, 0)));
+  strcpy(zText, (const char *)LOC(get_locale("en"), rc_name(rc, 0)));
   while (*zPtr) {
     *zPtr = (char)(toupper(*zPtr));
     ++zPtr;
@@ -2035,9 +2024,9 @@ void init_locales(void)
 {
     int l;
     for (l = 0; localenames[l]; ++l) {
-        const struct locale *lang = find_locale(localenames[l]);
+        const struct locale *lang = get_locale(localenames[l]);
         if (!lang) {
-            lang = make_locale(localenames[l]);
+            lang = get_or_create_locale(localenames[l]);
         }
         init_locale(lang);
     }
@@ -2704,7 +2693,7 @@ message *movement_error(unit * u, const char *token, order * ord,
   direction_t d;
   switch (error_code) {
   case E_MOVE_BLOCKED:
-    d = finddirection(token, u->faction->locale);
+    d = get_direction(token, u->faction->locale);
     return msg_message("moveblocked", "unit direction", u, d);
   case E_MOVE_NOREGION:
     return msg_feedback(u, ord, "unknowndirection", "dirname", token);
@@ -2722,7 +2711,7 @@ int movewhere(const unit * u, const char *token, region * r, region ** resultp)
     return E_MOVE_OK;
   }
 
-  d = finddirection(token, u->faction->locale);
+  d = get_direction(token, u->faction->locale);
   switch (d) {
   case D_PAUSE:
     *resultp = r;
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.h b/src/kernel/config.h
index 7f03776ae..ff52dc104 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.h
+++ b/src/kernel/config.h
@@ -141,9 +141,6 @@ extern "C" {
   int skill_limit(struct faction *f, skill_t sk);
   int count_skill(struct faction *f, skill_t sk);
 
-/* direction, geography */
-  extern const char *directions[];
-
   int findoption(const char *s, const struct locale *lang);
 
 /* special units */
diff --git a/src/kernel/item_test.c b/src/kernel/item_test.c
index c9a144ede..e78799a79 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item_test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item_test.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void test_finditemtype(CuTest * tc)
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_world();
 
-  lang = find_locale("de");
+  lang = get_locale("de");
   locale_setstring(lang, "horse", "Pferd");
   itype = it_find("horse");
   iresult = finditemtype("Pferd", lang);
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void test_findresourcetype(CuTest * tc)
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_world();
 
-  lang = find_locale("de");
+  lang = get_locale("de");
   locale_setstring(lang, "horse", "Pferd");
   locale_setstring(lang, "peasant", "Bauer");
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
index a487b7c21..c0f82e776 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
@@ -229,6 +229,42 @@ void json_ships(cJSON *json) {
     }
 }
 
+static void json_direction(cJSON *json, struct locale *lang) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error("directions for locale `%s` not a json object: %d\n", locale_name(lang), json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    for (child=json->child;child;child=child->next) {
+        direction_t dir = finddirection(child->string);
+        if (dir!=NODIRECTION) {
+            if (child->type==cJSON_String) {
+                init_direction(lang, dir, child->valuestring);
+            }
+            else if (child->type==cJSON_Array) {
+                cJSON *entry;
+                for (entry=child->child;entry;entry=entry->next) {
+                    init_direction(lang, dir, entry->valuestring);
+                }
+            } else {
+                log_error("invalid type %d for direction `%s`\n", child->type, child->string);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void json_directions(cJSON *json) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error("directions is not a json object: %d\n", json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    for (child=json->child;child;child=child->next) {
+        struct locale * lang = get_or_create_locale(child->string);
+        json_direction(child, lang);
+    }
+}
+
 void json_races(cJSON *json) {
     cJSON *child;
     if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
@@ -253,6 +289,9 @@ void json_config(cJSON *json) {
         else if (strcmp(child->string, "ships")==0) {
             json_ships(child);
         }
+        else if (strcmp(child->string, "directions")==0) {
+            json_directions(child);
+        }
         else if (strcmp(child->string, "buildings")==0) {
             json_buildings(child);
         }
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c
index 00443b9b3..779b965d8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #include <platform.h>
 #include "types.h"
 #include "jsonconf.h"
+
 #include "building.h"
+#include "direction.h"
 #include "race.h"
-#include "terrain.h"
 #include "ship.h"
+#include "terrain.h"
+#include "util/language.h"
 #include <CuTest.h>
 #include <cJSON.h>
 #include <tests.h>
@@ -142,9 +145,31 @@ static void test_terrains(CuTest * tc)
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
+static void test_directions(CuTest * tc)
+{
+    const char * data = "{\"directions\": { \"de\" : { \"east\" : \"osten\", \"northwest\" : [ \"nw\", \"nordwest\" ], \"pause\" : \"pause\" }}}";
+    const struct locale * lang;
+
+    cJSON *json = cJSON_Parse(data);
+
+    test_cleanup();
+    lang = get_or_create_locale("de");
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, json);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, NODIRECTION, get_direction("ost", lang));
+
+    json_config(json);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_EAST, get_direction("ost", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, get_direction("nw", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_NORTHWEST, get_direction("nordwest", lang));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, D_PAUSE, get_direction("pause", lang));
+
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
 CuSuite *get_jsonconf_suite(void)
 {
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_directions);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_ships);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_buildings);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_terrains);
diff --git a/src/kernel/magic_test.c b/src/kernel/magic_test.c
index 044375d1d..2a89de23c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/magic_test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/magic_test.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void test_getspell_unit(CuTest * tc)
 
   set_level(u, SK_MAGIC, 1);
 
-  lang = find_locale("de");
+  lang = get_locale("de");
   sp = create_spell("testspell", 0);
   locale_setstring(lang, mkname("spell", sp->sname), "Herp-a-derp");
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void test_getspell_faction(CuTest * tc)
 
   set_level(u, SK_MAGIC, 1);
 
-  lang = find_locale("de");
+  lang = get_locale("de");
   sp = create_spell("testspell", 0);
   locale_setstring(lang, mkname("spell", sp->sname), "Herp-a-derp");
 
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void test_getspell_school(CuTest * tc)
   skill_enabled[SK_MAGIC] = 1;
   set_level(u, SK_MAGIC, 1);
 
-  lang = find_locale("de");
+  lang = get_locale("de");
   sp = create_spell("testspell", 0);
   locale_setstring(lang, mkname("spell", sp->sname), "Herp-a-derp");
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/move.c b/src/kernel/move.c
index 30f37b64a..f7facc4c8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/move.c
+++ b/src/kernel/move.c
@@ -1022,7 +1022,7 @@ static void cycle_route(order * ord, unit * u, int gereist)
     pause = false;
     token = getstrtoken();
     if (token && *token) {
-      d = finddirection(token, lang);
+      d = get_direction(token, lang);
       if (d == D_PAUSE) {
         pause = true;
       } else if (d == NODIRECTION) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 5599d2fc8..269833d0e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@ int readorders(const char *filename)
     case P_LOCALE:
       {
         const char *s = getstrtoken();
-        if (f && find_locale(s)) {
-          f->locale = find_locale(s);
+        if (f && get_locale(s)) {
+          f->locale = get_locale(s);
         }
       }
       b = getbuf(F, enc_gamedata);
@@ -1261,7 +1261,7 @@ faction *readfaction(struct gamedata * data)
   }
 
   READ_STR(data->store, name, sizeof(name));
-  f->locale = find_locale(name);
+  f->locale = get_locale(name);
   READ_INT(data->store, &f->lastorders);
   READ_INT(data->store, &f->age);
   READ_STR(data->store, name, sizeof(name));
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 31226c830..bc2739b95 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ static void xml_readtext(xmlNodePtr node, struct locale **lang, xmlChar ** text)
 {
   xmlChar *propValue = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "locale");
   assert(propValue != NULL);
-  *lang = find_locale((const char *)propValue);
+  *lang = get_locale((const char *)propValue);
 #ifdef MAKE_LOCALES
   if (*lang == NULL)
-    *lang = make_locale((const char *)propValue);
+    *lang = get_or_create_locale((const char *)propValue);
 #endif
   xmlFree(propValue);
 
diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index 487397b89..6e06ebfb6 100755
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -1639,7 +1639,7 @@ static void init_prefixnames(void)
 {
   int i;
   for (i = 0; localenames[i]; ++i) {
-    const struct locale *lang = find_locale(localenames[i]);
+    const struct locale *lang = get_locale(localenames[i]);
     bool exist = false;
     struct local_names *in = pnames;
 
diff --git a/src/modules/arena.c b/src/modules/arena.c
index 3ebdeff81..e9edd31e8 100644
--- a/src/modules/arena.c
+++ b/src/modules/arena.c
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ static void guardian_faction(plane * pl, int id)
     f->name = _strdup("Igjarjuks Kundschafter");
     f->race = new_race[RC_ILLUSION];
     f->age = turn;
-    f->locale = find_locale("de");
+    f->locale = get_locale("de");
     f->options =
       want(O_COMPRESS) | want(O_REPORT) | want(O_COMPUTER) | want(O_ADRESSEN) |
       want(O_DEBUG);
diff --git a/src/modules/autoseed.c b/src/modules/autoseed.c
index 19ee1e662..a28944b1b 100644
--- a/src/modules/autoseed.c
+++ b/src/modules/autoseed.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ newfaction *read_newfactions(const char *filename)
         }
       }
     }
-    nf->lang = find_locale(lang);
+    nf->lang = get_locale(lang);
     nf->bonus = bonus;
     assert(nf->race && nf->email && nf->lang);
     nfi = &newfactions;
diff --git a/src/spells/spells.c b/src/spells/spells.c
index 08f0dce46..d67ddf2d4 100644
--- a/src/spells/spells.c
+++ b/src/spells/spells.c
@@ -2608,7 +2608,7 @@ static int sp_firewall(castorder * co)
   direction_t dir;
   region *r2;
 
-  dir = finddirection(pa->param[0]->data.xs, mage->faction->locale);
+  dir = get_direction(pa->param[0]->data.xs, mage->faction->locale);
   if (dir < MAXDIRECTIONS && dir != NODIRECTION) {
     r2 = rconnect(r, dir);
   } else {
@@ -5862,7 +5862,7 @@ int sp_movecastle(castorder * co)
     return 0;
 
   b = pa->param[0]->data.b;
-  dir = finddirection(pa->param[1]->data.xs, mage->faction->locale);
+  dir = get_direction(pa->param[1]->data.xs, mage->faction->locale);
 
   if (dir == NODIRECTION) {
     /* Die Richtung wurde nicht erkannt */
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index 8c27d845b..c95d30fbe 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ void test_create_world(void)
   int i;
   const char * names[] = { "horse", "horse_p", "boat", "boat_p", "iron", "iron_p", "stone", "stone_p" };
 
-  make_locale("de");
+  get_or_create_locale("de");
   init_resources();
   assert(!olditemtype[I_HORSE]);
 
diff --git a/src/tests_test.c b/src/tests_test.c
index 250ea5ec6..efb0fca46 100644
--- a/src/tests_test.c
+++ b/src/tests_test.c
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 static void test_recreate_world(CuTest * tc)
 {
   test_cleanup();
-  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, find_locale("de"));
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, get_locale("de"));
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, it_find("money"));
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, it_find("horse"));
 
   test_create_world();
-  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, default_locale, find_locale("de"));
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, default_locale, get_locale("de"));
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, default_locale);
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, findregion(0, 0));
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, it_find("money"));
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static void test_recreate_world(CuTest * tc)
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("unit"));
 
   test_cleanup();
-  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, find_locale("de"));
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, get_locale("de"));
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, it_find("money"));
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, it_find("horse"));
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("horse"));
diff --git a/src/util/language.c b/src/util/language.c
index 67c230c89..57e4fa103 100644
--- a/src/util/language.c
+++ b/src/util/language.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ unsigned int locale_index(const locale * lang)
   return lang->index;
 }
 
-locale *find_locale(const char *name)
+locale *get_locale(const char *name)
 {
   unsigned int hkey = hashstring(name);
   locale *l = locales;
@@ -51,31 +51,27 @@ locale *find_locale(const char *name)
 
 static unsigned int nextlocaleindex = 0;
 
-locale *make_locale(const char *name)
+locale *get_or_create_locale(const char *name)
 {
-  unsigned int hkey = hashstring(name);
-  locale *l = (locale *) calloc(sizeof(locale), 1);
-  locale **lp = &locales;
+    locale *l;
+    unsigned int hkey = hashstring(name);
+    locale **lp = &locales;
 
-  if (!locales) {
-    nextlocaleindex = 0;
-  }
-
-  while (*lp && (*lp)->hashkey != hkey)
-    lp = &(*lp)->next;
-  if (*lp) {
-    return *lp;
-  }
-
-  l->hashkey = hkey;
-  l->name = _strdup(name);
-  l->next = NULL;
-  l->index = nextlocaleindex++;
-  assert(nextlocaleindex <= MAXLOCALES);
-  *lp = l;
-  if (default_locale == NULL)
-    default_locale = l;
-  return l;
+    if (!locales) {
+        nextlocaleindex = 0;
+    } else {
+        while (*lp && (*lp)->hashkey != hkey) lp = &(*lp)->next;
+        if (*lp) {
+            return *lp;
+        }
+    }
+    *lp = l = (locale *)calloc(sizeof(locale), 1);
+    l->hashkey = hkey;
+    l->name = _strdup(name);
+    l->index = nextlocaleindex++;
+    assert(nextlocaleindex <= MAXLOCALES);
+    if (default_locale == NULL) default_locale = l;
+    return l;
 }
 
 /** creates a list of locales
@@ -92,7 +88,7 @@ void make_locales(const char *str)
       ++tok;
     strncpy(zText, str, tok - str);
     zText[tok - str] = 0;
-    make_locale(zText);
+    get_or_create_locale(zText);
     if (*tok) {
       str = ++tok;
     }
diff --git a/src/util/language.h b/src/util/language.h
index eb7c81986..aeb79ab64 100644
--- a/src/util/language.h
+++ b/src/util/language.h
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ extern "C" {
   struct locale;
 
 /** managing multiple locales: **/
-  extern struct locale *find_locale(const char *name);
-  extern struct locale *make_locale(const char *key);
+  extern struct locale *get_locale(const char *name);
+  extern struct locale *get_or_create_locale(const char *key);
   extern void free_locales(void);
 
   /** operations on locales: **/
diff --git a/tests/init.lua b/tests/init.lua
index f6e5a307c..31ddd376f 100644
--- a/tests/init.lua
+++ b/tests/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 -- new tests 2014-06-11
+
+-- require "tests.ships"
 require "tests.settings"
 require "tests.config"
+require "tests.locale"
 require "tests.regions"
---require "tests.ships"
+
diff --git a/tests/regions.lua b/tests/regions.lua
index ca9e9af45..8b334cef2 100644
--- a/tests/regions.lua
+++ b/tests/regions.lua
@@ -18,5 +18,3 @@ function test_create()
     r = region.create(0, 0, "ocean")
     assert_not_nil(r)
 end
-
-
diff --git a/tests/ships.lua b/tests/ships.lua
index 35ef87fc7..f47131ef7 100644
--- a/tests/ships.lua
+++ b/tests/ships.lua
@@ -26,9 +26,23 @@ function setup()
     }]]
 
     eressea.config.parse(conf)
+    eressea.locale.create("en")
 end
 
-function test_landing1()
+function test_sail()
+    local r1 = region.create(0, 0, "ocean")
+    local r2 = region.create(1, 0, "ocean")
+    local f = faction.create("test@example.com", "human", "de")
+    local u = unit.create(f, r1, 1)
+    u.ship = ship.create(r1, "boat")
+    u:set_skill("sailing", 10)
+    u:add_order("NACH O")
+    process_orders()
+--    eressea.process.movement()
+    assert_equal(r2, u.region)
+end
+
+function notest_landing1()
   local ocean = region.create(1, 0, "ocean")
   local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
   local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "insect", "de")