Unexpected ROI (Return on Investment) from Terminology

Personal experience shows that all localization clients are interested in terminology--without exception. Only very large organizations, however, actually seem to maintain terminology databases.

Wittner, Janaina. Multilingual (2007). Articles>Language>Localization>Controlled Vocabulary

Accessibility Is Just Another Language

Although typically we think of accessibility in terms of visual, hearing, dexterity, cognitive disabilities and so on, this concept of disability is very limiting in terms of the need for accessible technology. More than 50 million Americans have some sort of disability, and the numbers are increasing as the population ages. Tens of millions of people in the European Union (EU) and half a million worldwide have a disability. Disability knows no boundaries, languages or borders.

Broin, Ultan Ó. Multilingual (2004). Articles>Web Design>Accessibility

Scott Abel Explains Content Management Concepts  

Scott Abel is a content management strategist and structured-XML evangelist who helps organizations improve the way they author, maintain and deliver their information assets. He also maintains The Content Wrangler (www.thecontentwrangler.com), a blog for technical writers. More importantly, perhaps, he has a tendency to explain run-of-the-mill business practice in an honest and engaging way.

Botkin, Katie. Multilingual (2009). Articles>Interviews>Content Management

Anticipating the Impact of Content Convergence  

The nature of content has been undergoing a profound shift in the past several years, beginning with single-sourcing efforts and continues as the need for portable content increases. The portability of content is not a manufactured need, but an extension of the trend to create, manage and deliver content in more efficient ways. In turn, this shift affects content development and delivery, particularly localization, which feels the impact of source-language changes exponentially.

Bailie, Rahel Anne. Multilingual (2009). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Localization

Controlled Language in Technical Writing  

The documentation used in manuals and other technical writing worldwide is predominantly created in English. Though much discussion has been devoted to it in academia and elsewhere for years, technical English continues to be written in a way that is difficult for many people to understand.

Braster, Berry. Multilingual (2009). Articles>Language>Technical Writing>Controlled Vocabulary

Intersection of Content and Translation Management  

In today's global economy, multilingual communications are the conduit to multinational revenue profiles and global brand recognition. Buyers in countries large and small are increasingly demanding local language materials as a condition for purchasing products. Laggards that deliver multilingual products and services late to regional markets lose market share and see their global brand fragment and decline in value. Multinational business demands that organizations redefine the value of content to drive global customer experience, increase customer satisfaction, promote brand awareness and consistency, and support time-to-market goals.

Ciarlone, Leonor. Multilingual (2009). Articles>Content Management>Localization>Translation

Multilingual Sandbox

This website is a sandbox to show how the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) and the Open Toolkit can be used to create multilingual websites. DITA is an OASIS standard.

Multilingual Sandbox. Resources>Web Design>Localization>DITA