International Communication

'Localisation' is the term given to changing the software and the related documentation to suit a particular geographical region. One of the major components of localisation is of course translation. Needless to add, I am talking about localisation from an international perspective. Localisation at the national level would mean having software in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and so on. Surprisingly, this has not happened in a big way.

Kamath, Gurudutt R. IT People (2000). Articles>Documentation>Localization>India

International Document Publication

The formatting work that's done after translation typically represents 30-40% of the overall cost of a localization project. Some ways to reduce that cost involve choosing an appropriate page layout application. One application can require as much as five times the labor required to do the same type of formatting as in another application. By choosing the right application, you can conceivably save hundreds of hours and costs over your set of target languages.

Bailey, Ase, Adam Jones and Dick Rude. SDL International (1998). Articles>Language>Localization

International Technologies

International technologies describes a collection of Macintosh technologies and resources developers can use to internationalize or localize their applications. Internationalization is the process of readying your software to handle different text systems and locale-specific features. Localization is the process of translating an application's text elements, and adjusting the user interface for a specific language or region.

Apple Inc. (2002). Resources>Language>Localization>Software

International Web Usability

They don't call it the World Wide Web for nothing. A single click can take you to a site on another continent and a business can attract customers from hundreds of countries without ever going to a Frankfurt trade show where they book you into a hotel two hours down the autobahn.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1996). Design>Web Design>International>Localization

Internationalising Documentation

The translation market is growing with tremendous speed. Pressure comes from various angles: volume, time, quality and price. Hence the challenge can be stated thus: Translate more better and in less time at a lower cost! There is no way this can be done without the use of translation tools.

Stücker, Harald. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Documentation>Localization

Internationalization and Authoring for Multilingual Web Pages  

Internationalization--how does it differ from globalization, localization, and all the other terms commonly found in the context of preparing products (for example, web pages) for the global marketplace? It is becoming an increasingly competitive advantage as corporations striving to compete globally realize its necessity. The issue is not to effect it but to effect it properly. Note, however, that internationalization is not limited to a company’s web site but also includes its products and software, related documentation, and marketing material and should be viewed as an integrated whole.

Adams, Cathleen. STC Proceedings (1999). Design>Web Design>Localization>International

Internationalization and Translatability  

Internationalization prepares products and documentation for translation. It accompanies the production process, helping to ensure that all internationalization factors are considered. It prevents costly and time-consuming retrofitting and increases the chance of a successful product introduction into foreign markets.

Kumhyr, David B., Carla Merrill and Karin Spalink. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Language>Localization

Internationalizing Online Training  

Online training is becoming increasingly popular; however, geographic and cultural distance can work to your disadvantage. St.Amant outlines how to set up a training program that both attracts and benefits communicators in locations around the globe.

St. Amant, Kirk R. Intercom (2006). Articles>Education>Online>Localization

Introducing "King Memo" (David vs. the Goliaths?)

I work as a freelance translator, mostly with Word and html files. I also regularly organize localization projects involving translations into the main European languages. When I looked around at the translation memory systems on the market today, I found them not only seriously overpriced but also laden down with so many features that I'd never expect to use in a month of Sundays.

Abele, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Software

An Introduction to Computer-Aided Translation

Computer Aided Translation (CAT) is the broadest term used to describe an area of computer technology applications that automates or assists the act of translating text from one spoken language to another. Today CAT tool technology is being used by both business users and professional translators. Business users conducting business internationally are now finding benefit in tools when communicating across languages when a translator is not available and the user has limited multilingual skills. Professional translators are finding CAT tools highly effective in improving their translation productivity and quality for work that lends itself to the use of the different technologies.

SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software

An Introduction to Machine Translation

The mechanization of translation has been one of humanity's oldest dreams. In the twentieth century it has become a reality, in the form of computer programs capable of translating a wide variety of texts from one natural language into another. This book introduces methods adopted in current systems

Hutchins, W. John and Harold L. Somers. Academic Press (1992). Books>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Introduction to MLang

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Layered Approach to Translating Online Documentation  

Localizing a large online documentation system is a significant, expensive, and ongoing project. SAP AG has adapted a layered approach to translation to help manage an online help system in 12 languages. This approach is based on an analysis of online documentation categories, and it is implemented by an analysis of the target markets. Technologies such as hypertext linking and text embedding need to be carefully controlled in order for this approach to be successful.

Elliott, Keith H. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Documentation>Translation>Localization

Lessons in Internationalization  

By examining some of the mistakes his company made while implementing an e-commerce Web site, Larson demonstrates the complexity of internationalization.

Intercom (2004). Design>Web Design>Localization>E Commerce

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

The LISA Dictionary Toolbar

The LISA Toolbar enhances your ability to look up multilingual dictionary definitions from anywhere on the web and takes only seconds to install. When the LISA Toolbar is installed, it will appears along with the Internet Explorer toolbar. This means you can quickly and easily use the dictionary to lookup a word from any website location. The LISA Dictionary toolbar is powered by LOGOS.

LISA. Resources>Software>Translation>Localization

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

Localization

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

Localization Guidelines for Language and Terminology

How does your writing style affect localization? The following list of suggestions provides some language and terminology guidelines that should ease localizing your application.

Microsoft (2001). Reference>Style Guides>Localization

Localization Guidelines for Your User Interface

When delivering your product in foreign languages, it is important to consider how the user interface will appear to users around the world. While there are no hard-fast rules, the following suggestions provide some guidance in facilitating localization in regard to your user interface.

Microsoft (2001). Articles>Style Guides>User Interface>Localization