#18487
MLang implements a set of services that is designed to help make software that interacts with Internet data more international. More specifically, MLang helps solve problems presented by the multilingual environment that exists for software today. This article describes the services that are provided by the MLang Component Object Model (COM) object.
Microsoft (2003). Articles>Language>Localization>Microsoft Windows
#25388
Is Localization of a Product Essential to Ensure Usability and Customer Satisfaction?
Do you believe that localization of a product is essential to ensure usability and customer satisfaction?
Dick, David J. Usability Interface (2005). Articles>Language>Localization
#15149
Is Your Documentation Translation-Ready? 
Describes several ways technical communicators can prepare their documentation for translation.
Potsus, Whitney Beth and Kaarina Kvaavik. Intercom (2001). Articles>Language>Localization
#26280
Java Localization with Translation Memory eXchange Standard
One of the main concerns of internationalization consists of separating the main source code from the texts, the labels, the messages and all the other objects related to the specific language in use. This article briefly explain the TMX standard and a simple TMX Java bridge.
Asuni, Nicola. evolt (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#29076
The connection between language and empiricism is a central issue in technical writing and communication, more so than in other fields. Our field deals with technical and scientific knowledge which is oftentimes very definite and objective, yet there has been increasing recognition over the past few decades that this knowledge is socially constructed and rhetorically negotiated. Debates have ensued over the rhetoricity of technical communication in contrast to its empirical and instrumental aspects. W.V. Quine, one of the most influential American philosophers of the twentieth century, however, rejected the distinction between empirical knowledge and knowledge stemming from language and social negotiation. Understanding technical writing and communication through the lens of Quine's theory ameliorates the tension between instrumental and rhetorical/humanistic views of technical discourse by recognizing the validity of both views and integrating the two. This understanding in turn will facilitate our pedagogical interactions with technical and scientific majors.
Dombrowski, Paul M. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2002). Articles>Language>Theory
#26997
Usability is an important part of good technical communication. Many writers incorporate usability techniques such as site visits, user task analysis and usability testing into their work.
Quesenbery, Whitney. WQusability (2006). Articles>Language>Usability
#13937
Language Choice Online: Globalization and Identity in Egypt
The dominance of English on the Internet in the medium's early years caused great consternation about a possible threat to local languages and cultures. Though the hegemony of English online has since weakened, there is still concern about how English and other languages interact online, but there has been almost no research on this issue. This paper combines linguistic analysis, a survey, and interviews to examine English and Arabic language use in online communications by a group of young professionals in Egypt. The study indicates that, among this group, English is used overwhelmingly in Web use and in formal e-mail communication, but that a Romanized version of Egyptian Arabic is used extensively in informal e-mail messages and online chats. This online use of English and Arabic is analyzed in relation to broader social trends of language, technology, globalization, and identity.
Warschauer, Mark, Ghada R. El Said and Ayman Zohry. JCMC (2002). Design>Language>Localization>Middle East
#25147
A linguistic blog, with many posts on different languages.
#26185
Language Issues (part of Globalization and Localization Issues)
This article is a very good primer on the language issues involved in localization software. It touches upon topics such as language direction, capitalization, code pages, fonts and input methods, to name just a few. It gives a reader a solid understanding of the complexity and factors involved in localizing software into different languages.
Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#25146
An engaging and informative group blog on linguistics.
University of Pennsylvania. Resources>Language>Linguistics>Blogs
#19332
Inappropriate use of language is one of the most common causes of usability issues in interface design. When using a product (either online or offline) the words used to label functions or buttons are of paramount importance to the user attempting to understand how the object works. After all, these labels are often the only differentiator within a row of identical buttons. If a user has difficulty understanding what these words or labels mean, there is a fundamental problem in mapping functions to their relevant buttons on the interface. If a term is vague, the user is unsure about the resulting action, and if it cannot be understood, it is likely to cause a 'critical' usability error - an inability to complete a simple task. And these difficulties arise surprisingly often - not because users have limited vocabularies, but because designers and developers insist on using terms unfamiliar to them. How does this happen? The one common factor behind every language difficulty is a failure to conduct a user test, or 'phrase audit', with real end-users.
Farrell, Tom. Frontend Infocentre (2000). Design>Language>Web Design>Usability
#31353
Language Quality-Assurance Software 
Explores the benefits of using Language QA Software to optimize documentation for organizations and companies.
Kohl, John R. Intercom (2008). Articles>Documentation>Software>Language
#29084
Leadership, Rhetoric, and the Polis 
This article argues that leadership and rhetoric are intimately connected; therefore, rhetoric should include the explicit examination of all aspects of leadership (that is, including but not limited to rhetorical criticism of the speeches and writings of leaders), both as an area of research and an area of pedagogy. This is particularly important when helping students become active members of the citizenry is seen a central goal of what teachers are doing in the English or Communication class. The interconnections between leadership and the concept of the polis, the active assembly of citizens empowered to discuss and make public policy, is useful here, even though the polis may no longer exist in its original form. In particular, leadership through identification with the polis appears to be an approach with great potential.
Gellis, Mark. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2002). Articles>Language>Management
#22732
Learning Languages with Instant Messaging
While e-mail and discussion groups are other popular communication genres on the Internet, instant messaging is the most conducive to learning languages because of its synchronous nature. There are many ways to communicate over the Internet, but instant messaging is unique, because it almost simulates a face-to-face conversation. Unlike e-mail and discussion groups, users are not simply leaving messages to be read later. Users are both present, holding a live conversation. Although some of the subtle features of conversation are lost (such as facial expressions or tone of voice), instant messaging makes up for these disadvantages by being so widely accessible to so many people across the world.
Dean, Heather. Techniques (2003). Articles>Language>Collaboration>Instant Messaging
#21630
El lenguaje escrito no es más que un caso particular del lenguaje visual. En realidad hay muchos lenguajes visuales que parecen tener reglas en común. Pensar en el lenguaje visual nos puede ayudar a transmitir nuestros mensajes de forma más efectiva.
Dursteler, Juan Carlos. InfoVis (2003). (Spanish) Articles>Language>Visual Rhetoric>Technical Illustration
#29198
This is a list of limitations of the types of automated audio translation offered by such services as Talkr.com. Since we do not see a list in their help center, we thought we would compile our own list and offer it as a wiki page for any customers to keep a list of limitations.
KeyContent.org (2007). Articles>Language>Translation>Audio
#22669
The Linguistic Foundation of Labeling
A discussion of why to employ principle-based information architecture.
Warner, Amy J. ASIST (2004). Articles>Language>Information Design
#19993
Linguistic Issues in Authoring for Technology-Enabled Translation
For many corporations, growing international is almost a must. Obviously, human translators play a key role in this difficult venture. A range of computer tools aimed at expediting the translation process are now being used by translators. However, whether or not translation tools are used, translators feel frustrated and blame technical writers for their flaws. Authoring does not seem to be done with translation in mind, and the linguistic issues to be solved up front are sometimes countless. An efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality translation requires the right combination of ingredients, and proper authoring will have a major impact on the entire process.
Rivas, Juan-Carlos. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#30155
Linguistic Politeness in Professional Prose
Consonant with a trend toward investigating professional writing in naturalistic settings, this discourse-analytical study of a corpus of 'suggestion letters' written in a Big Eight accounting firm demonstrates how auditors use negative politeness strategies to meet the complex demands of potentially threatening interactional situations. The study substantiates Brown and Levinson's claim that politeness is a linguistic universal by showing that the same politeness strategies found in speech also occur in written communication. Analysis of negative message strategies in ten leading textbooks shows that business communication pedagogy needs to modify strictures on the use of passives, nominalizations, expletive constructions, and hedging particles in light of research on the exigencies of real-world linguistic interaction.
Hagge, John and Charles Kostelnick. Written Communication (1989). Articles>Language>Business Communication
#23478
Localisation: Trendy Term or Legitimate Need?
Again and again we have seen how modern language use suddenly gives rise to new concepts or terms behind which, as closer observation shows, are simply the same old meanings. Whether it's the 'administrative assistant' who used to be the 'secretary', or the 'human resources manager' who has replaced the 'personnel manager' (or even ridiculous examples like 'domestic engineer' for 'housewife'!), such neologisms often generate little more than a smirk. Is there a similar situation when it comes to 'localization'?
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization
#30346
In addition to creating product specifications in support of locale-specific conventions, savvy localization managers will ensure that developers have coding practices to enable localization and adaptation. Double-byte enabling, for example, must be part of the code base.
Swain, Cindy. Boston Broadside (1997). Articles>Language>Localization
#22794
Localization in a Time of Shrinking Budgets
Suggests ways that technical communicators can implement cost-effective localization.
Butland, Philip. Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#18500
Localization in Japan and China 
While localization often involves common challenges across all languages and international markets, localizing into Asian markets can be particularly challenging for a number of reasons. The most obvious challenge for many of us is understanding the language itself. Multi-byte character sets and different levels of formality tend to make these projects a bit more complex. They often require more time, slower translation time, and more thorough review and quality assurance.
SDL International (1999). Design>Language>Localization>East Asia
#14085
Localization Industry Standards Association
Consisting of over 200 corporate clients and their globalization solutions partners -- the LISA provides best practice, business guidelines and multi-lingual information management standards for making enterprise globalization a reality.
#30515
Localization Management of a Horizontal Software Product
Successful localization of software and documentation for foreign-language markets requires thorough planning, effective systems, skillful project management and excellent communication. Working as a team, Rocky Mountain Translators, a 17-year old translation company based in Boulder, Colorado, and a Hewlett-Packard Division in California, describe a successful association localizing a horizontal software product. The unique perspectives of each company provide the backdrop to an in-depth discussion of the steps involved in this partnership process.
Burns, Ann Lyn and Kristy Roesner. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Language>Localization
