Localization

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Introduction

Key Concepts and Terms

Before Localization

Getting a product ready for international markets

Internationalization

(Internationalization is called Globalization at Microsoft)
Internationalization

Cultural considerations

The treatment of maps in localization can present problems for countries or regions with disputed borders or territories. Current examples of disputed areas include Kashmir (India and Pakistan), the West Bank (Israel and Palestine), Taiwan (the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan)), and Crimea (Russia and Ukraine). For localization, decisions have to be made about how to portray the disputed territories. This problem is especially relevant when localizing map applications and GIS software. One solution is to mark such territories as "disputed" on maps. But this is not always possible if local regulations stipulate how the maps should be displayed. In some cases there can also be conflicting geographic names, e.g. when the countries or entities that lay claim to disputed regions have different official languages and/or writing systems.

Issues with maps can also arise in marketing, advertising, and other creative domains. For example, in January 2016 a Coca Cola campaign on the Russian social media site vKontakte posted an Orthodox Christmas greeting using a map of Russia without Crimea. Groups of Russians criticized the omission of Crimea in the advertisement, and Coca Cola responded by publishing a new advertisement with a map of Russia that included Crimea. But Coca Cola's second attempt drew criticism from groups of Ukrainians, who protested the company's decision indicated Crimea as part of Russia and not Ukraine.[1]

Design for Language Switching

Concepts

Localization Strategy

Legal considerations

French language laws (Canada, France)

The Charter of the French Language of 1977 is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada that defines French as the only official language of Quebec and frames fundamental language rights of all Quebecers. It stipulates that product labels, their instructions, manuals, warranty certificates as well as computer software must be in French.
The Toubon law of 1994 is a French law mandating the use of the French language in several areas, among them official government publications, advertisements, commercial contracts, government-financed schools or the work place. Since it stipulates that "any document that contains obligations for the employee or provisions whose knowledge is necessary for the performance of one's work must be written in French", software developed outside of France must have its user interface and instruction manuals translated into French.

Localization

Localization by type

We usually distinguish between software (SW) and user assistance (UA) localization. These two deliverable types are further defined below. As the creation process and the workflows of both deliverables are becoming more and more connected, we see the boundaries between UA and SW become blurred in many areas. Many localization areas, processes and tools can meanwhile be applied for both UA and SW.

Pre-translation language work

Style guides

Every language has specific linguistic and grammatical rules.

CAT Tools

Computer-assisted_translation

Machine Translation

Machine Translation

Translation Management Systems

Translation Management Systems (TMS) aka Globalization Management Systems (GMS)
Globalization Management Systems

Workflow-enabling tools

UI adjustments (Software)

UA adjustments (Content)

Glossary

  1. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/world/europe/coca-cola-withdraws-from-social-media-war-over-crimea.html
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