#31355
Prepare Your Site for the Global Market 
Are you looking for ways to maximize your company's global Web presence? Look no further, as the authors have laid out a step-by-step plan for creating and designing a multilingual site.
Deschamps-Potter, Catherine M. and Amy Plant. Intercom (2008). Articles>Web Design>Localization>Language
#24334
Preparing World-Ready Information Products
Learn the skills, processes, and international attitude you need to create information products that effectively address multilingual and multicultural audiences. This seminar covers the basics of working with translators; accommodating cultural differences; designing documents, graphics, and multimedia for global appeal; writing for international audiences; and project management issues that arise as you prepare your information products for the world.
Hoft, Nancy L. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Language>Localization
#25788
Preparing Your Web Site for Machine Translation
Machine translation is a sophisticated technology. However, it is not as sophisticated as human language. Understanding how MT works on the Web helps designers and developers prepare Web pages for MT. Preparatory tactics improve the usability of MT output.
O'Connell, Theresa A. IBM (2001). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#19991
Project Management in Technology-Enabled Translation
In today’s world of fast-paced production and even faster communication, the demand for translation is growing at a phenomenal rate. As a result of the big Silicon bang, multilingual reproduction of software, web sites, robotics manuals, and a multitude of other technical linguistic materials, is in high demand. This demand translates into dollars, marks, and yen for translation companies around the world: more words equal more money. The role of computer-aided translation (CAT) tools is increasing due to an ever-growing demand from international clients, coupled with an insufficient number of human translators. To handle the complex technical issues surrounding translation, multi-skilled project managers are becoming increasingly important to the success of projects.
Driggs, Amy L. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Language>Localization
#31648
As global online access grows, Web site designers find themselves creating materials for an increasingly international audience. Cultural groups, however, can have different expectations of what constitutes acceptable Web site design. This article examines how prototype theory can serve as a methodology for analyzing Web sites designed for users from different cultures. Such analyses, in turn, can help individuals create more effective online materials for international audiences.
St. Amant, Kirk R. IEEE PCS (2005). Articles>Web Design>Localization>Cultural Theory
#26173
Not too long ago, I was managing a translation project in Access (English to Greek) when I discovered that the translator hadn't used question marks similar to those used in the English source. Instead of question marks, he was using semicolons. I was sure that this was a mistake and that the computer was acting strange again. But it wasn't a mistake. In the Greek language, the question mark is like a semicolon, and the semicolon is instead a raised period. I've started to check on other projects as well, and I've learned quite a few interesting things about punctuation and their separators.
Bratu, Felicia. WTB Language Group (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Grammar
#29878
Reducing Costs and Maximizing Localization ROI
The percentage of revenue that companies are generating from global markets is increasing rapidly. Not only does the global nature of sales help to increase overall corporate revenue, it also aids in building global brand equity, maintaining competitiveness against global competition and reducing geographical market reliance. In today's challenging economic environment, though, international efforts are often given low priority within the corporation. With this backdrop, localization teams are forced to do more with less in order to meet global market needs. Consequently, achieving a high Return On Investment (ROI) from localization initiatives is more important than ever.
Shapiro, Tom. STC Proceedings (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#27003
Reducing Translation and Localisation Costs
These days, staff in localisation departments spend their time essentially on project management, translation and quality assurance. However, by using one of the emerging systems that integrate content creation, localisation and content management into an efficient system, many of these activities can be automated or avoided all together. We are now seeing the emergence of technical content control systems that can be used to improve the turn-around time, translation costs and the quality of the translations themselves. In recent projects, where these systems have been implemented, organisations have seen substantial savings in localisation costs, with word count reductions and translation costs of around 30%.
Pratt, Ellis. Cherryleaf (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#25692
This page contains a categorized list of resources that are especially relevant to translators and anyone wanting to gain an in-depth view of the translation industry and translation technology.
Trans-K (2004). Resources>Language>Localization
#21433
Von dieser Seite aus erreichen Sie ganz konzentriert Angebote im Internet, die für Übersetzer und Technische Redakteure besonders interessant sind. Naürlich gibt es auch in dieser Linklisten, getrennt für Übersetzer und Technische Redakteure. Bei Bedarf erscheinen Themen auch in beiden Listen, Sie können sich also wohl auf eine der Listen konzentrieren.
von Obert, Alexander. Techwriter.de (2003). (German) Resources>Directories>Technical Editing>Localization
#23500
Here is a summary of a survey that I conducted in April 1999. These results reflect replies received as of 10 June 1999.
Allen, Jeff. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Documentation>Localization>Glossary
#23461
The language industries are rapidly embracing the use of translation tools such as automatic terminology lookup, terminology mining, terminology consistency checkers, and machine translation. Authoring tools that involve access to a termbase are also appearing, at least in the context of controlled language, but will over time no doubt also be used in the authoring processes where the syntax is less controlled.
Wright, Sue Ellen. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#30567
SAPHelp: A Multilingual Authoring Tool
SAPhelp is a proprietary authoring tool for documenting and translating on-line. It allows development, documentation, and translation to function concurrently. Its documentation structure lessens the need for redundant storage of texts. It provides version and authorization control and assigns work to authors and translators.
Ladd, Dennis D. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Content Management>Localization>Machine Translation
#14761
Selecting a Translation Agency
The authors offer advice on choosing translation firms, with special emphasis on the interview process.
Potsus, Whitney Beth and Catherine Deschamps-Potter. Intercom (2002). Design>Language>Translation>Localization
#18521
Semiotics at Work: Technical Communication and Translation in a Multilingual Corporate Environment
In this paper an attempt is made to find a unifying approach to the study of the translator’s praxis, assuming that translation is guided by certain, recognizable, semiotic processes. Computational, corpus-based methods intended to aid in the research of large text bases are introduced. Alignment of text segments from files in different languages contained in a corpus, where these text files are known to be mutual translations is described. Text encoding in order to allow comparison of the results of translation studies performed by different scholars is also demonstrated. One goal is to establish qualitative and quantitative variables, on the sentential as well as the textual level, which would permit generalizations about the concrete procedures performed by professional translators in authentic work situations, e.g. in multi-lingual corporate environments.
Larsson, Arne and Magnus Merkel. Linkopings Universitet (2002). Articles>Language>Localization
#23471
Should Documentation Be Written in English in Countries Where the Natural Language is Not English?
Though ours was quite an international group, we soon found that we shared similar experiences. Comparing our experiences led us to affirm that when non-native writers produce English documents, mother tongue reviewers are required.
Payne-Charby, Anne-Marie. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Documentation>Localization
#13949
Single Sourcing for Translations 
OCLC Online Computer Library Center has reduced costs and improved quality by using single sourcing in the localization of its services. For its FirstSearch reference service (which provides access to 80 databases for 18,000 libraries in 64 countries), OCLC has been through three phases of localization. Each phase has increased consistency and efficiency and lowered our translation costs. In the first phase of localizing FirstSearch in 1999, we introduced French and Spanish versions. The translation included the user interface screens and the help system. During this phase, we had minimal reuse of text in the interface and help files. The next year, OCLC released a major redesign of that service-with three levels of searching and greatly expanded database help. A separate administrative service and help system were also included. The translation task became much larger, and we needed to optimize the opportunities for text reuse in the system interfaces, help systems, and documentation. In the interfaces, all text strings were categorized and defined as entity strings-reused as needed among functions, databases, and user levels. For help and documentation, the needed content was analyzed and defined in an SGML DTD. Scripts were used to generate 240 help topics from a few SGML files. This approach reduced translation costs and facilitated consistency. Now in the third phase of localization, we are integrating our tool set, implementing a content management system, and adding support for Asian languages. Through this phase, we expect to reduce translation costs and improve quality.
Hysell, Deborah A. ACM SIGDOC (2001). Presentations>Language>Translation>Localization
#28417
Single-Source Content Management
More and more businesses are expanding into international markets. A critical success factor for this expansion is high-quality, cost-effective and timely translated written content. Responsibility for this typically falls on internal translation departments or localization partners. Translation comes at a high price, exceeding the cost of writing the original content after only a few languages.
Trotter, Paul. tekom (2006). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Localization
#18498
Software Localization in the Windows Environment
Atsushi's presentation focused on two areas of Windows software localization: the internationalization of source code, and the actual localization of the user interface.
Kaneko, Atsushi. SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software
#23775
A threaded web-based discussion forum about software localization.
#26187
String-Related Issues (part of Globalization and Localization Issues)
This article discusses common occurring problems related to string resources include the text that appears in an application's user interface and tips on how to avoid them.
Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#19696
Subsidiary Reviews in the European Union
Companies in many different industries are working at a feverish pace to produce translations of end-user documentation to meet EU deadlines, some of which are as early as December 2003. As a result of these deadlines, technical communicators in affected industries— such as medical devices and home appliances— are quickly overcoming many traditional translation hurdles. Documentation departments have formed solid relationships with translation agencies, streamlined documents to facilitate translation, and developed corporatelevel translation policies. However, challenges remain for documentation departments and translation agencies worldwide.
Balchunas, John. Intercom (2003). Articles>Documentation>Localization>Europe
#13962
Successfully Crossing the Language Translation Divide
Going global is a familiar phrase in today’s competitive business environment. When we hear the phrase “going global” what comes to mind? Most of us think of products being sold in a foreign country. Providing documentation in your customer’s language gives your company the competitive advantage in the global marketplace. For those products to be sold successfully, a clear understanding and communication of the language is imperative. Language translation into each target language presents a host of challenges and choices that must be anticipated and resolved in the source language prior to translation.
Dilts, David W. ACM SIGDOC (2001). Presentations>Language>Localization
#28874
Writing is a culturally situated activity. When writing is outsourced to other cultures, because of a lack of knowledge of the users' culture and also because of influences from the writer's local culture, those doing the writing and designing, despite various strategies adopted for overcoming the disadvantage of not knowing the users' culture, may not know how to culturally situate writing. It is, therefore, important that bicultural people, who know the users' culture, as well as the culture of those doing the outsourced work, give writing teams feedback about the users' culture. Doing so can make outsourced writing more culturally situated.
Jeyeraj, Joseph. IEEE PCS (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Offshoring
#23414
Technical Communication in Sweden: Education, Certification and Internationalization
In spite of the limited population, Sweden is a highly industrialised nation with a number of globally well known industries. As the home market for these industries is far too small, they have to rely on the export markets to sell their products. This situation creates a rather special situation for technical communicators in Sweden. We have to translate the manuals into a large number of languages. And, as our own culture really does not have a dominating position in the world, we have to adapt the information to the target cultures on the different markets. Internationalization is a part of our everyday life.
Näsström, Johan. TC-FORUM (1999). Careers>Certification>Localization>Scandinavia
