Localization of Single-Source Content  

One of the key motivators of adopting a single-source approach for documentation is the potential cost savings available through the reduced cost of translation. By consolidating multiple documents, version updates, and similar products, translations may be leveraged across components. By creating single-source content with translation in mind, authors are able to create documents that are easy to localize, increase consistency, and reduce costs. The article below provides a summary of the translation benefits of single-sourcing and offers advice for designing a single-source strategy from a localization perspective.

Jones, Adam. STC Proceedings (2002). Design>Language>Localization>Content Management

Localization Planning

Localization is the process of customizing your application for a given culture/locale. Localization consists primarily of translating the user interface. Proper planning will help ensure your application is localized in a timely and cost effective manner.

Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization

Localization Takes Hold in Turkey  

Describes the current state of the localization market in Turkey, how EU membership will impact the industry and the importance of standards. In a sidebar, Rebecca Ray, Global Business Editor, explains how the Turks’ longstanding custom of linguistic and cultural assimilation makes doing business in the country a refreshing and enjoyable challenge for global business people.

Oygur, Vedat. LISA (2004). Articles>Language>Localization

Localizing for Mobile Devices: A Primer

The mobile world and localization: designing for mobile communications; small screens; screens of various types; keyboards versus styluses; operating systems for mobile devices; proper internationalization is necessary.

LISA (2001). Articles>Language>Localization>Web Design

Localizing Multimedia

Multimedia localization is a slow process. It's complicated and, technically, very challenging. It can also be very costly. Based upon the size of the applet, it costs five times as much as routine localization. It is also subject to mavericks, which means no two companies do the same thing; and no two developers in the same company do the same thing. That means every time you take the puzzle apart, it's a brand new task. A company which produced numerous products and had them developed by third-party developers or different teams within its own company, creates a different puzzle each time for you to take apart.

O'Leary, Glyn. SDL International (1998). Design>Language>Localization>Multimedia

Lost in Translation

Here are some signs gleaned from various websites, including www.interweavers.com/brett/humor/signs.world.html and www.engrish.com/, that have amused (and confused) even the most jaded of us.

Straus, Jane. Grammarbook.com (2004). Humor>Language>Translation

Lost in Translation?  

The task of communicating in a global environment requires planning, sensitivity and expert help. The authors have developed a series of check lists and tips to guide writers, editors, and other members of the localization team through the process.

Sellin, Robert and Elaine Winters. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization

Lost in Translation?  

The first two hours are spent in the simulation Elaine’s Game - which gives participants the experience of temporarily belonging to another culture and interacting across cultures with other members of the workshop. It is a proven way to expand awareness of other points of view. The first two handouts explore culturally biased material in a concrete way; participants are expected to collaborate and rewrite a portion of an article. The third handout is an example of how meaning changes through translation into two languages (Japanese and French) from American English.

Sellin, Rob and Elaine Winters. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Language>Localization

Machine Translation - 2001 Has Already Arrived

The easiest way to cope with existing language barriers undoubtedly is the use of translation programs, electronic helpers that translate texts automatically. However, with high expectations meeting poor quality translation results in the past, press media regularly concluded that users had better learn the language themselves or employ at least a human translator. Yet a closer look at modern machine translation (MT) programs allows a more subtle view.

Bauer, Elisabeth. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Machine Translation - A New Dimension and What You Can Expect

Instead of 'translation', AltaVista offered me unbelievable junk, evidently, an unedited MT version of American promotional material. The text was unreal, the result of a myth: You click a button and the translation is staring at you. You are in the middle of a jungle.

Klein, Fred. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Machine Translation and Multilingual Technical Communication  

The demand by the global market for products which have been localized has brought a whole set of issues and concerns to international technical communication. Of particulur interest is the need to translate technical documentation into a number of languages without sacrificing the necessary timeto-market. Old solutions and processes are insufficient. This paper explores some of the computational tools now offered by the machine translation industry for the facilitation of multilingual document translation as modern corporations need it.

Bennett, Winfield Scott. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Machine Translation and Technical Communcation  

Machine translation, the use of computers for translating between languages, is only now coming of age, just at a time when there is increasing need for such technology. Views of machine translation range from realistic assessments to extravagant statements for and against the technology. The reality is that machine translation can provide high-speed automated quality translation depending on a variety of factors; it is not a panacea for all translation problems. Successful machine translation requires human-computer interaction which promotes the strengths of each. Machine translation has reached a stage at which it can contribute to multilingual technical communication.

Bennett, Winfield Scott. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Language>Translation>Machine Translation

Machine Translation Today and Tomorrow  

The field of machine translation (MT) was the pioneer research area in computational linguistics during the 1950s and 1960s. When it began, the assumed goal was the automatic translation of all kinds of documents at a quality equalling that of the best human translators. It became apparent very soon that this goal was impossible in the foreseeable future.

Hutchins, W. John. Gardez Vlg (2002). Articles>Language>History>Machine Translation

Machine Translation: An Objective Look and Primer  

Machine Translation is a wonderful technology partner for the technical communicator, saving, under the right circumstances, time and money. As with any partnership, roles, responsibilities, and accountability must be clearly defined. In this human-machine partnership, the technical communicator shoulders most of the responsibility. There are many translation systems available, and the one that is best for you can be identified by considering, among other things, the purpose of the translation, its audience, the document’s size, and the desired quality. Despite the sophistication of the systems currently on the market, a human translator is a requirement for most post-translation editing!

Luttrell, Carol. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Machine Translation: General Overview  

This chapter introduces the main concepts and methods used for machine translation systems from the beginnings of research in the 1950s until about 1990; it covers the main approaches of rule-based systems (direct, interlingua, transfer, knowledge based), and the principal translation tools; and it concludes with a brief historical sketch.

Hutchins, W. John. Oxford Univ Press (2003). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Made-Up Words, Real-Life Winners  

The editor of Intercom presents the winners of Intercom's annual humor contest.

Martin, Maurice. Intercom (2000). Humor>Language

The Making of Technical Translations - The Personal Angle

My English at its best is only average. In fact: my English was much better when I was a student of chemistry. Since the time I have started working as a technical translator I have forgotten a lot of it. Nevertheless, my clients like my manuals very much. How does this happen?

Fuckner, Ingrid. TC-FORUM (1997). Articles>Language>Localization

Managing Translations: Achieving Quality by Coordinating All Available Resources  

Technical communicators have many potential advantages for managing the translation process. When the translation process is outsourced, the technical communicator can ensure that the translators have access to all the resources necessary to achieve quality documents. The same resources used to create the source document will be valuable resources to a translator. Also, the SME team can become an essential part of ensuring the quality and completeness of the translated documentation.

Poiré, Elisabeth. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Technical Translation

Mapping Language Function in the Brain: A Review of the Recent Literature    

Advocates of brain-based learning have argued that instructional methods, to be successful, must be based on an understanding of how the brain processes information. In the past most descriptions of neurocognitive function were largely speculative, relying on theoretical constructions of how we believed the brain to work. Recent advances in functional imaging Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging have, however, opened the brain to empirical study. This article will consider the potential importance of brain study for composition instruction, briefly describe functional imaging techniques, and review the findings of recent brain-mapping studies investigating the neurocognitive systems involved in language function. In short, understanding how language systems are organized in the brain represents the first step in our attempts to create brain-compatible instructional methods in the composition classroom. Following a review of the recent literature, the article will consider the possible implications of this information for pedagogical practice.

Crafton, Robert E. and Elissa Kido. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2000). Articles>Language>Research>Cognitive Psychology

Minimalism

Links to resources about the Minimalist Model applied to documentation and training.

Ryder, Martin. University of Colorado at Denver (1995). Articles>Language>Rhetoric>Minimalism

Multi-Language Working in a Unix Environment: The Concept of Internationalization  

Worldwide communication, international markets and growing needs of local customers today demand globally competitive software products that are able to satisfy multiple user requirements. This paper looks at the problems arising when software supporting local languages, conventions and cultures is designed. It then describes a new programming concept called 'internationalization' and finally leads into a discussion of possible influences on the documentation process.

Hemme, Hartmut. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Language>Localization

Multilingual Technology 101: A Lite Introduction  

Authoring for international communication has become a common requirement for the technical communicator. Few writers, illustrators or editors have any concept of the translator's on-screen view of the creator’s work. Multilingual software and technology are a complex array of systems, programs and appliances. Engineering resources provide the many thousands of beautiful language characters from far-off lands and ancient times. Translation tools make it possible to compare, store, edit and translate work into those languages. Workflow systems allow the authoring team to co-manage the distribution of its work from end-to-end of the document, software and Web translation supply chains.

Luther, Jerry D. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Language>Localization

Multilingual Webmaster

MultilingualWebmaster.com was created to provide an open forum for developers and managers of multilingual web sites. Our goal is share information and innovation and promote 'best practices' in multilingual web site design.

MultilingualWebmaster.com. Resources>Language>Localization>Web Design