#19695
Some grammatical structures in English can pose problems for translators, particularly if those structures can be interpreted in more than one way. Murphy’s Law says that your reader will often use the wrong interpretation, resulting in mangled translations. Spoken language allows supplemental methods—like voice intonation, facial expressions, and physical movements— to convey meaning. However, print communication lacks the support of those nonverbal clues. To ensure clear meaning, writers must avoid expressions that require supplemental, nonverbal clues. They must depend on good structure and correct grammar to communicate their meaning.
Maaks, Betsy M. Intercom (2003). Articles>Language>Localization
#26182
Translation Word Count: Why Do Word Counts Vary From Agency to Agency?
From generating a word count using the Word Count tool in MS Word, or using a counting tool such as PractiCount and Invoice, to using translation tools such as Trados or Wordfast, it's hard to produce similar results when each of these tools have their own way of counting.
Bologna, Sandra. WTB Language Group (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#23480
Two Years Later: The Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Life
Looking at escalating costs and short deadlines for foreign-language documentation, we decided over two years ago that the time had come for a hands-on study of translation tools and their practical benefits. Machine-translation systems such as Systran and Logos were not an option; instead, we directed our attention toward Translation Memory tools.
Kreitmeier, Peter. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#18695
Understanding and Planning for Translation Services 
The past decade has seen significant advances in machine-translation (MT) technology. While MT is still a ways off its goal of replacing human translators, today it is used successfully in several industry sectors (incl. automotive, aerospace, defense) with lots of documentation to be translated.
Heuberger, Andres. TECHWR-L (2002). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#30733
Unexpected ROI (Return on Investment) from Terminology
Personal experience shows that all localization clients are interested in terminology--without exception. Only very large organizations, however, actually seem to maintain terminology databases.
Wittner, Janaina. Multilingual (2007). Articles>Language>Localization>Controlled Vocabulary
#24168
Machine translation has improved greatly over the years, but one type of human communication, figurative language, remains difficult for computers to tackle. When we hear 'You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,' we know that the speaker is probably commenting on human, not equine, nature.
Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#22387
ISO 10646 ist ein Zeichensatz, der Schriftzeichen binären Codenummern zuordnet. Unicode hingegen ordnet den 2- bzw. 4-Byte-Code denselben Schriftzeichen zu, ergänzt die Definition aber um Zeicheneigenschaften, Implementationsregeln und Hinweise. Unicode ist eine private Organisation verschiedener kommerzieller Unternehmen, akademischer Einrichtungen und Anwendergruppen. ISO (International Standards Organisation, eine Unterorganisation der UNO) und Unicode arbeiten seit 1991 zusammen, um Diskrepanzen zwischen ISO 10646 und Unicode zu vermeiden.
#26888
Use the Unicode Database to Find Characters for XML Documents
The Unicode consortium is dedicated to maintaining a character set that allows computers to deal with the vast array of human writing systems. When you think of computers that manage such a large and complex data set, you think databases, and this is precisely what the consortium provides for computer access to versions of the Unicode standard. The Unicode Character Database comprises files that present detailed information for each character and class of character. The strong tie between XML and Unicode means this database is very valuable to XML developers and authors. In this article Uche Ogbuji introduces the Unicode Character Database and shows how XML developers can put it to use.
Ogbuji, Uche. IBM (2006). Articles>Language>Localization>Unicode
#28803
Using In-Country Reviews to Ensure Quality Translations 
Too often, in-country translation reviews are overlooked, even though they can document valuable feedback and save customers time and money on translation projects. The author provides several criteria for deciding whether such a review is right for your project.
Deschamps-Potter, Catherine M. Intercom (2007). Articles>Language>Localization>Methods
#18494
Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software with CAT Tools
The function of OCR Software is to improve the scanning process with the transfer of hard copy documents into workable electronic text. Despite some high quality OCR software packages now available, the scanning process is still not perfect. This imperfection can greatly diminish from the performance of your CAT tool if it is not properly addressed. When combining these two processes (scanning and translation via CAT tools), it is important that you know which OCR software package to use and exactly how to use it most effectively. In fact, if you do not have the proper OCR software, or if you are using your OCR software incorrectly, you may actually negate the potential benefits that your translation software can offer.
#24807
Visual Communication: Crossing International Boundaries
Technical communicators often produce documents that are then translated into another language. Much has been written about creating a text that is “translatable” by eliminating analogies and metaphors; using short, clear sentences; organizing information according to the cultural preference for order; and eliminating jargon. whenever possible. Because technical communicators often provide both text and graphics, such attention to the translatability of graphics is essential to producing documents that fit the cultural conventions of the country in which the document is to be used.
Bosley, Deborah S. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Language>Localization>Visual Rhetoric
#23470
What a Technical Translator Can Do For You
I work with a small team of scientists, specializing in technical documentation and translation. In the following text I will look from a different angle on the work of a technical translator.
Zimmermann, Annegret. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization
#30349
What to Expect from a Translation Agency
Leverage, CAT, translation memory, and aligning are quite interrelated and build on each other in the process.
Musgray, Uta. Boston Broadside (1997). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization
#26358
Without a doubt, delivering translation and localization services for the game and toy industries is more than child’s play. These days, with billions of dollars in revenue from international sales at stake, companies are becoming more and more aware of the importance of delivering quality localized products to specific markets. With incredible growth rates in segments such as computer and video games (which make more money than the US film industry these days), but also with learning toys, board games and many other products trying to find their ways into playrooms worldwide, the industry is a strong player that demands to receive quality services from translation and localization vendors. While many of the same questions that affect any translation and localization project are also valid for these markets, there are a variety of issues unique to the game and toy industry that need to be addressed.
Niedermair, Christoph. tekom (2005). Articles>Language>Localization
#18787
Working with a Professional Translation Supplier
Working with a professional translation company is one way to obtain accurate translations. Make sure that you choose a qualified supplier that you trust. It is a plus if your chosen supplier utilizes translation memory. After choosing the company you want to work with, collaborate to iron out details and develop a smooth process. Prepare your documents carefully to keep translation costs down. Establish a viable procedure for in-country reviews. Create a win-win situation by making your translator a business partner.
Smith, Jackie. STC Proceedings (2002). Articles>Language>Localization
#23499
Writer's View of Using a Controlled Language
While the benefits of using a controlled language are clear from a business perspective (reduced translation costs, standardized phrases, reduced potential for misinterpretation), applying it can be a challenge when writing even simple service procedures.
Muldoon, Donna. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Controlled Vocabulary
#32206
Using a process called localization, language professionals translate the source document’s words and adapt its content to the needs and norms of the target country or market. Because language professionals can work only with what they are given, the document’s creator is partly responsible for ensuring the localization process is effective. After all, poorly written English cannot be turned into good Japanese.
Giovanis, Kristen. TechCom Manager (2006). Articles>Language>Localization>Translation
#32220
Translation and Localization Options
How do you identify the many options available for localizing your products or materials, and how do you select the right ones for your company?
Johnson, Dan. TechCom Manager (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Translation
#33399
How to Correctly Initiate a New Localization Project 
Undertaking a localization project is a multi-step process. This article offers a step-by-step guide to localization that makes the project seem less daunting.
Freij, Nabil. Intercom (2008). Articles>Language>Localization
#33752
Coping With Babel: How to Localize XML
Translating XML documents presents many opportunities as well as challenges. There are clear do's and don'ts when it comes to designing your documents regarding translation. You can use also use XML to your advantage to reduce costs and increase quality. One of the most exciting ways to do this is via the use of the XML Text Memory Namespace - xml:tm.
Zydron, Andrzej. IDEAlliance (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>XML
#33821
Evaluation of International English and Machine Translation
Machine translation often gives humorous translations or incorrect translations. Usually, a bad translation is because the source text is not clear in a way that a machine can 'understand'. If text is optimised for machine translation, machine translation gives excellent results. There are two sets of texts. The first set is written in standard English. The second set is equivalent to the standard English text, but it is optimised for machine translation. Google Translate was used to translate the texts into Bulgarian and into Spanish.
Unwalla, Mike. TechScribe (2009). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#34026
Why Qualified Translators Are a Must in Product Localization and Translation?
Money paid to qualified technical writers and translators in a localization project is money spent very well indeed. Why? Because the worst thing for a project is to have the customers or end users switch to another product since they either cannot understand the instructions and the way an interface works, or the localized copy contains embarrassing mistakes that damage the brand name and image.
Akinci, Ugur. Technical Communication Center (2008). Articles>Language>Localization>Technical Translation
#34107
Understanding Bidirectional (BIDI) Text in Unicode
A little-understood corner of Unicode is its handling for bidirectional text (The spec is a little dry). While English languages are read left-to-right, plenty of scripts (notably Arabic and Hebrew) are read from right to left. When only a single direction of text is used in a document, it's fairly straight forward, but when texts with different directions are mixed in one document, some difficulty arises in determining direction. This document attempts to explain how bidirectional text in Unicode works and what this means for the web. In the Unicode standard, characters have a representational order in memory (which English speakers tend to think of as left to right, but is really start-to-finish in a file), which the bidirectional algorithm then operates on to determine the display characteristics.
Henderson, Cal. Iamcal (2009). Articles>Language>Localization>Unicode
#34109
This document is mainly intended for “ordinary” people who read the Unicode standard in order to get information about some particular characters or character processing issues that are important to them. The standard, though available online, is difficult to use without some help, and you can easily miss essential information when looking up things in it.
Tampereen Teknillinen Yliopisto (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Unicode
#34604
Internationalization is the basis for ease of localization and includes support of international character sets, separation of localizable features such as translatable character strings from the code, and provision for locale-specific features and functions.
STC International TC SIG (2001). Articles>Language>Localization
