Presented at DocTrain East 2007 by Maxwell Hoffmann, ENLASLO -- This session will interest any technical communicator or content creator in the 21st Century workplace. In our post Cold-War economy, dynamics have changed that influence how we must all think through and deliver content. The “English only” market is shrinking on a daily basis.
With our global economy, there are few enterprises that can afford to keep content in English only. World markets and off-shore partners are moving all of us into an international, multilingual marketplace. The majority of internet users no longer have English as a primary language. Beyond product documentation and marketing materials, subcontracting and off-shoring of resources may involve patents and critical business information that is not yet available in English. In the USA, local Spanish is one of the fastest growing market segments.
This workshop will explore all critical aspects of localization and how you can get started in a sensible fashion to avoid mistakes up front that can multiply as a project goes into multiple languages.
Topics include:
* The role of Internationalization
* Localization vs. Translation
* Best practices for managing translation/localization projects
* Common Translation methods
* Common Translation tools
* Benefits of a CMS solution for localization
* What is Translation “Memory”?
* Managing Translation Memory
* The importance of a terminology glossary
* Customer and vendor roles in managing a glossary
* The Locale Concept
* Formatting requirements; Writing System and Language
* Major Localization Activities:
o Translation
o Addition of locale specific features
o Object adjustment for expansion
o Change Management
o Testing
o Involvement of key groups (linguistic team, engineering, desktop publishing and project management)
* Criteria for selecting a Localization Vendor
o Selection criteria, requirements and research
o Managing communications with localization vendors
37. Understanding the L10N Process 0.1K to 100K 10K to 500K 10K to 500K Typical sizes Compiled application (online) Compiled files (online) On PDF Proofreading Engineering, QA, linguists Engineering, Graphic design, QA, linguists Engineering, DTP, QA, linguists Team Resource files, string tables Source Web or Help, graphics Layout files, graphics Source Software Online Doc Doc
38.
39.
40. Documentation L10N Process Desktop Publishing Translation Pre-Process Translate Post-Process Import Screens Localize Graphics Grab Screens Engineering Translation Format 1 and Print Edit Format 2 and Format Proof Final Proof Final QA and Review
41. Software L10N Process Set up Replicate Server Train Analyze Build Glossary Pre- Process Translate Edit Post-Process Build Site Format QA Verify Final QA Review Engineering Translation
42. Web Site L10N Process Set up Replicate Server Train Analyze Build Glossary Pre- Process Translate Edit Post-Process Build Site Format QA Verify Final QA Review Engineering Translation
43. Online Help L10N Process Pre- Process Engineering Translation Translate Edit Post- Process Compile Format QA Proof Final QA and Review Verify
57. Challenges to Localization A sign in a Swiss hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
68. Challenges with Graphics: Embedded graphics cost more in disc space and upload/download time Graphics that are “stapled” to page (float), not anchored, will disappear
77. ENLASO’s 30 Year History 1968 1998 2001 2002 2004 2005 RWS Group, PLC Founded RWS Group acquires Polyglot International RWS Group launches major software localization center in Boulder, Colorado RWS Group acquires Maryland life sciences language specialist, Translingua, Inc. US-based management led buyout of the localization division of RWS Group from Watertone Limited, a UK Company Expansion of production facilities in Boulder