Technical Writers Gain Control

In the field of technical writing the use of Controlled Language (CL) attracts more and more public interest. However, the merits of controlling language in the context of technical documentation are not uncontroversial.

Reuther, Ursula. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Technical Writing

Technical Writing For Multi-Lingual Audiences

In the global marketplace today, wise companies are learning an important fact about translation. Survival in today’s international environment means not making translation an afterthought. You gain precious competitive advantage if, as you develop your product and its accompanying documentation for simultaneous release in international markets, you plan for translation from the outset.

Landgren, Theodora. MetroVoice (2003). Articles>Language>Localization>Technical Writing

Technology-Enabled Translation  

With ever-rising demands for translation finding ways to improve the entire process of multilingual publication becomes essential. One way for such improvement is the use of computer tools in the process. Translation is central to the multilingual publication process, but must be seen in the entire context. This panel provides a forum for the exploration of the issues involved in the multilingual publication process with particular emphasis on translation and the technology that enables the process from authoring to publication.

Bennett, Winfield Scott. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Language>Localization

Ten Things To Remember When Translating Documents  

There are many ways you can help your translation projects go more smoothly. It's important to trust the translation provider you've chosen, and to communicate your needs clearly. With an attitude of cooperation and partnership, you can iron out details and come up with a system that works for both of you. Here's a list of ten fundamentals that will contribute to the process.

Smith, Jackie. STC International TC SIG. Articles>Language>Localization

Testing for Globalization and Localization

This article discusses key testing phrases needed for a successful world ready software application: globalization testing, localizability testing and localization testing.

Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization

Testing Translated Information Across Twelve Languages, Three Continents, and Five Time Zones  

When budget constraints prevent bringing overseas testers to the development lab to verify product translation, Web conferencing sessions allow the testers to work in their own countries but still communicate directly with the lab.

Varin, Amy. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization

Tips For Developing Smarter Documentation  

Eight tips for preparing documentation that might require localization at some point in the future.

Lingo Systems (2002). Design>Language>Localization>Documentation

Towards a Definition of Example-Based Machine Translation  

The example-based approach to MT is becoming increasingly popular. However, such is the variety of techniques and methods used that it is difficult to discern the overall conception of what example- based machine translation (EBMT) is and/or what its practitioners conceive it to be. Although definitions of MT systems are notoriously complex, an attempt is made to define EBMT in contrast to other MT architectures (RBMT and SMT).

Hutchins, W. John. IAMT (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Translating Business Cards: Time and Money Saving Tips

If it is your first time dealing with typesetting foreign language business cards, you may start out thinking it is a simple task. So did we. Later we learned that without proper preparation and accessible information, it can turn out to be a very time consuming job with changes and changes following initial layout and translation. After many trials and errors, we have summarized the lessons we learned here for you.

WTB Language Group (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Professionalism>Localization

Translating Software Manuals from English to Japanese  

Hitachi is importing more overseas software for sale in Japan as Hitachi products. Hitachi develops the Japanese manuals for this software by translating the English manuals. The Documentation Development Department (DDD) of the Software Development Center, Hitachi Ltd., not only translates the English into Japanese, but also rewrites the Japanese and reformats the manuals into the Hitachi manual style. To translate, the DDD makes an English-Japanese dictionary of technical terms for each manual. Hitachi often will contract professional translation companies to translate these manuals. The program-development department and the DDD mutually check the translation results to ensure the highest quality translation. When rewriting, the DDD changes the style and improves readability and referencing. We must improve the efficiency of developing manuals by using automation to convert manual styles.

Ogawa, Masazumi. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Localization>Technical Translation

Translating the Web: Web Site Development for an Asian Audience

In all aspects of marketing, the Eastern world is breaking through to the West. More and more businesses are expanding product lines and services into a new market that involves countries in East Asia. Whether a business forms an alliance with a Chinese company to use its resources for a project, or it sells directly to Japanese consumers, it is clear that key media materials should be appropriate for Asian audiences.

Sinex, Jacqueline. Usability Professionals Association (2006). Articles>Web Design>Localization>Asia

Review: Translating the World: Science and Language  

Technical communication is often compared with translation. In both cases, practitioners modify messages created by one culture so the meaning of such messages can be understood by the members of another culture. For translators, the cultures involve different languages, while technical communicators focus on bridging the differences between professional cultures (for example, engineers versus more general audiences).

St. Amant, Kirk R. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>Localization

Translating Videos for an International Market  

Smith explains the process of translating videos. The article includes sidebars on video terms and advice on choosing a video translation firm.

Smith, Jackie. Intercom (2002). Design>Multimedia>Localization>Video

Translating XML Documents with xml:tm

Sooner or later someone will want to have your XML document translated into another language. In fact XML documents are much easier to translate than other electronic documents because they separate out form from content, and they conform to a rigorous standard and defined syntax. There are various approaches to improving the translation process.

Zydron, Andrzej. XML.com (2004). Design>Web Design>Localization>XML

Translation and Localization Trends in the Baltic States  

When I first got into the business twenty years ago, most translation work was limited to the FIGS languages: French, Italian, German, and Spanish. But today, to reach markets opened by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the Chinese economy beginning in 2001, competitive businesses must tap into 'minor' languages.

Frievalds, John. Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Eastern Europe

Translation Company Owners: Do You Have a Job or a Business?

Since everyone has only one life to live; I would like mine to be an enjoyable one, enriched by interesting experiences and by meaningful relationships with the people that I care about. I want to have a lot of time for myself and experience other cultures from around the world. So how do I achieve this goal and still be highly effective at work--thus obtaining financial independence, as well as self satisfaction from work?

Iler, Huiping. WTB Language Group (2005). Careers>Management>Localization

The Translation Glossary: Stepping Stone to a Quality Translation

If your company is new to the process of translating their documentation, chances are little groundwork was laid for the process. One thing you can do to improve the quality of the translation in this situation is to create a good translation glossary. A translation glossary ensures consistent terminology in the translation; that a term in English always becomes the same term in the translated text. It eliminates the problem of referring to the same concept or same component by different names in different places in the documentation. Technical writers are in a good position to create the glossary. They constantly deal with questions of terminology. They probably wrote the manual being translated and already had to make decisions about terminology for the English version.

Wright, Ami. SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Glossary

Translation Management  

Translation management is becoming a common task for the technical writer as companies enter the global marketplace. It is challenging and interesting, but at the same time it is generally a complex project management task and is not to be taken lightly. This paper discusses a real-life translation project and points out some of the problems that you may encounter.

Tunsley, Roger A. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Language>Localization>Project Management

Translation Memory 2004: Room to Grow

In 2002, LISA examined Translation Memory (TM) usage and trends. In 2004, LISA returned to the subject with an expanded survey that revisited the questions of 2002 and added questions on specific tool use and interest in new developments of TM. The report, The LISA 2004 Translation Memory Survey, is available free of charge from the LISA website. In this interview, we asked Arle Lommel, LISA’s Publications Manager and author of the survey report, about the significance of the findings and what they mean for the industry.

Lommel, Arle. LISA (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

The Translation Process: From Concept to Final Version  

The process of translating a technical document from English to another language is challenging. Problems in the source language can create numerous difficulties for the translator. Other problems center on localization, language, and production. Localization issues arise in selecting an international team and translators and in considering cultural differences and foreign audiences. Language issues involve grammar, sentence structure, terminology, and text used in headings and in graphics. Production issues include fonts, layout and design, and production media. The translation process can be greatly facilitated if you analyze all of these issues before beginning your project.

Sánchez, Otilia and Nancy Parra. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Language>Localization

Translation Stumbling Blocks  

Some grammatical structures in English can pose problems for translators, particularly if those structures can be interpreted in more than one way. Murphy’s Law says that your reader will often use the wrong interpretation, resulting in mangled translations. Spoken language allows supplemental methods—like voice intonation, facial expressions, and physical movements— to convey meaning. However, print communication lacks the support of those nonverbal clues. To ensure clear meaning, writers must avoid expressions that require supplemental, nonverbal clues. They must depend on good structure and correct grammar to communicate their meaning.

Maaks, Betsy M. Intercom (2003). Articles>Language>Localization

Translation Trends  

Nagy discusses what the translation industry can expect during the new year, including trends in Web site translation, language sensitivity, and agency management strategies, as well as the effects of increased competition.

Nagy, Charlene. Intercom (2003). Design>Language>Localization>Web Design

Translation Word Count: Why Do Word Counts Vary From Agency to Agency?

From generating a word count using the Word Count tool in MS Word, or using a counting tool such as PractiCount and Invoice, to using translation tools such as Trados or Wordfast, it's hard to produce similar results when each of these tools have their own way of counting.

Bologna, Sandra. WTB Language Group (2004). Articles>Language>Localization

Trends in Translation  

Bacak, the executive director of the American Translators Association, provides an overview of some important trends in the translation profession.

Bacak, Walter. Intercom (2000). Design>Language>Translation>Localization

Turn Off The Tap: Limiting Word Wastage

Sophie Hurst explains how, rather than leaving it all to the translators, authors can influence how their texts appear in other languages.

Hurst, Sophie. tekom (2005). Articles>Documentation>Localization