#20024
Unicode: Making the Web Safe for Furriners
I think that Internet and World Wide Web are capitalized because they are proper names. Many names are capitalized common nouns: the White House, the Ninth Circle of Hell, the Heritage Foundation, the Civil War. I've heard arguments for lowercasing Internet and World Wide Web from people who compare them to things like the telephone system, but lowercase is certainly not the predominant style for these terms. At least 90 percent of the time, they're capitalized, and I don't think you should ignore actual use completely.
Ivey, Keith C. Editorial Eye, The (2003). Articles>Language>Standards>Unicode
#14154
Unified Medical Language System
In 1986, the National Library of Medicine (NLM), began a long term research and development project to build a Unified Medical Language System ® (UMLS ® ). The purpose of the UMLS is to aid the development of systems that help health professionals and researchers retrieve and integrate electronic biomedical information from a variety of sources and to make it easy for users to link disparate information systems, including computer-based patient records, bibliographic databases, factual databases, and expert systems. The UMLS project develops 'Knowledge Sources' that can be used by a wide variety of applications programs to overcome retrieval problems caused by differences in terminology and the scattering of relevant information across many databases.
#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
#18446
Users from Other Cultures than the U.S.
This paper introduces general recommendations and guidelines for website developers about accommodating diverse users, in particular users from other cultures than the US. The paper shows how cultural differences might affect the usability of the websites. It also provides sample for good websites and some useful links for practitioners on how to create universally usable websites.
Elnahrawy, Eiman M. Universal Usability (2001). Design>Language>Localization
#27995
Using Adoption Metaphors to Increase Customer Acceptance
We know a product has a lifecycle, but does the language we use for that product also have a lifecycle? From TiVo to the Internet Superhighway, Rice shows us how the metaphors we use have an evoluation all their own.
Rice, Sarah A. Boxes and Arrows (2006). Articles>Language>Technology>Tropes
#29018
Using Corporate Lore to Create Boundaries in the Workplace 
In the workplace setting professionals use language to create boundaries of exclusion and inclusion, using the discourses of their professions and of specific workplace domain. Some boundaries are marked by formal tests--directed memos, posted notices, stamps that read "For Your Eyes Only." Less overt forms, and arguably more effective, are specific rhetorical devices relying on knowledge of the corporate and professional culture. People are included or excluded from such cultures by their knowledge and ability to manipulate professional fables and folklore, historical data, workplace experience narratives, and practical knowledge. These discourse practices can be used to promote solidarity and positively strengthen professional cultures, but they can also be used to obstruct communication and to create social fragmentation in the workplace. This article examines some examples of discourse practices among managers and employees in the customer service department of a large manufacturing firm, and shows how knowledge of the ways that language can both include and exclude people from cultural groups in the worksite can help professional communicators facilitate more effective and responsible communication practices in workplace settings.
Racine, Sam J. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (1999). Articles>Language>Workplace
#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.
#29041
The Value of Linguistics to Technical Authors in a Digital World
This article aims to expound the importance of a knowledge of linguistics and the theories of human language to a technical author. Linguistics is often seen as a specialised branch of language for language experts. When technical authors communicate, they do need the tools of linguistics to handle the rhetorical grammar and patterns of technical prose. The linguistic features and semanics involved in technical writing also become relevant, as is visual and graphic representation.
Poon Teng Fatt, James. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2000). Articles>Language>Linguistics>Technical Writing
#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
#30838
Vocabulary Profilers break texts down by word frequencies in the language at large. Most of the English web Vocabprofilers on this site are based on Laufer and Nation's Lexical Frequency Profiler, and divide the words of texts into first and second thousand levels, academic words, and the remainder or 'offlist.'
VocabProfile (2008). Resources>Language>Diction
#10295
Localization is the process of creating or adapting a product to a specific locale, i.e. to the language, cultural context, conventions and market requirements of a specific target market. In this chapter, we are assuming the English design will be the original design on the basis of which all pages will be localized. The Internet has eliminated distance as a barrier to sharing information at a worldwide level. Now the biggest barrier to communication is language. 2,113,000,000 Internet users speak languages other than English. They make up 70.2% of the world economy. Increasingly multinational companies have their websites localized into multiple languages to take advantage of the promotional and commercial values of the Internet. As they have found, the localization process can be very time-consuming, costly and frustrating if the English web pages were not designed for this purpose.
Sun, Lily. Elements of Information Design (2001). Design>Language>Localization
#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
#11763
Quotations of translated material from all over the world.
#25712
Why Can't a Computer Translate More Like a Person?
Translation is difficult, even for people. To begin with, you have to know two languages intimately. And even if you speak two or more languages fluently, it is not a trivial matter to produce a good translation.
Melby, Alan K. TTT (1995). Articles>Language>Translation>Machine Translation
#18194
Why Cultural Contexts Are Missing: A Rhetorical Critique of Localization Practices
This paper argues for the importance of cultural contexts in localization practices. It explores possible reasons for the missing of cultural contexts in localization, such as a static model of culture, a positivist view of science, and an instrumental engineering approach. Broad-scoped rhetorical methods are called to improve the performance of localization.
Sun, Huatong. STC Proceedings (2002). Presentations>Language>Cultural Theory
#24947
Ori Redler, co-founder of RedleX, talks about the history of Mellel and why RedleX has invested so much in support for minority languages.
Redler, Ori. LISA (2004). Articles>Language>Word Processing
#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
#31365
World English: How to Communicate with an International Audience
World English is the result of applying a set of writing and editing principles to create a simplified, highly-intelligible international dialect. The principle is similar to that of Basic English, which was developed by linguists during World War II. While Basic English had only 800 words, you could really say a lot of things with it. The number of situations where misinterpretation can take place is practically infinite. But a fairly small number of writing and editing principles will cover a very large number of cases and considerably reduce the burden on the non-native reader and listener.
Perlman, Alan M. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Writing>International>Language
#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
#24503
Writing Globally: Teaching Technical Writing to Hungarian Students of Translation
Not only do students of technical writing courses need to learn how to prepare documents for translation properly, but students of translation need to learn technical and academic writing. This article gives the example of such a course taught at the Technical University of Budapest, Hungary. The course covers writing instructions and manuals, documents for scholarly and professional societies and scientific conferences, scientific papers, reports and abstracts.
Koltay, Tibor. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (1999). Articles>Language>Writing>Technical Writing
#18489
XML Internationalization and Localization FAQ
You will find here answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about XML internationalization and localization (including XSL, CSS, and other XML-related technologies).
#18318
Философия интерпретации самоопределяется как продолжение критической традиции, которая сложилась после Канта. Согласно ей, мир не дан нам нам непосредственно и исходным является понимание отношений человека к миру, к другим и к самому себе. Эти отношения являются отношениями интерпретации и выражаются процедурами схематизации, конструирования, формирования, проецирования, селектирования и т.п. активной познавательной деятельностью. Таким образом, "интерпретация" относится к основным философским понятиям.
Markov, B.V. Argumentation (2002). (Russian) Articles>Language>Theory
