Internationalizing Your Content

Internationalizing Your Content:
Authoring with Localization in Mind
Presented by:
Lisa Pietrangeli – Director, Global Client Solutions

Internationalizing Your Content 2
Internationalizing Your Content: Authoring with Localization in Mind
Language Intelligence Ltd. ©2009
Who are the stakeholders?
• Product developer/manager
• Software developers
• Technical writers
• Marketing
• Sales Team
• Distributors
• Installers
• Users / Consumers

What do they all need?
• Installer guides
• User guides
• Quick Ref. or Quick Start Guides
• Datasheets
• Training guides – Participant and
Instructor
• E-Learning
• Website
• Software
• Catalogs
• Product brochures

What is Required for International
Sales & Distribution?
• Content creation
• Sharing information
• LSP Partnership
(Language Service Provider)
• Translation & Localization
• In-country review and approval
• Printing
• Posting
• Train sales force
• Sim ship

Step One:
Start with the Words: Laying a Foundation

Step 1: Start with the words: Laying a Foundation
Simplicity
Consistency,
Clarity

Simplicity
Structure
Modifiers
Self-contained ideas

Consistency
Terminology
One term - One meaning

Clarity
Idioms and images
Word choice
Parts of speech
“It”

How do your choices affect localization
and translation?

Step Two:
Create a Knowledge Base: Collecting Materials and Information

Step 2 – Create a Knowledge Base: Collecting Materials and Information
• Collect information from SMEs and
product developers
• Prepare for client-side linguistic review
• Create definitions for product terminology
• Create and maintain a Term Base
• Start to maintain a Translation Memory

Style Guide
Text styles
Software references, screen text and buttons
Notes, Warnings, Cautions
Procedures
Callouts

Everything that you need to know in order to write about a product, the
translators also need to know in order to translate.

Step Three:
Identify Key Topics: “Chunking”

Step 3 –Identify Key Topics: “Chunking”
Topic-based Writing method: Writing self-contained, standalone information
elements that do not depend on other topics as context.
Chunking: Breaking information down into small units that people can easily
remember.
Content vs. Document

Significant benefits of Topic-based Writing during localization:
Agile or modular translation possible
Take the headache out of updates
Maximize TM leveraging
Exact same information can be plugged into different outputs

Company Logo
Contact Information
Product Description
Product Specifications
Feature 1 Description
Feature 1 set-up procedure
Feature 1 test procedure
Feature 1 cleaning and care of
Safety Summary
Feature 2 common problems
Safety Summary
Training Assessment
Product 1
Topics

Going Green
Reuse
Reuse
Reuse

Step Four:
Reuse and Repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content

Step 4 –Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content

Step 4 – Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content
Topic Mapping
Conduct a Top level analysis
Develop a Topic Map
Develop a Translation Map
Maintain Version control

Installation Guide User Guide Quick Start Guide Product Catalog Training Guide Website Content Data Sheet
Company Logo
X X X X X X X
Contact Information
X X X X X X X
Product Description
X X X X X X X
Product Specifications
X X X X X
X X X
X X X X X
X X X
Feature 1 cleaning and care of
X X X
Safety Summary
X X X X X
X X X X X X X
X X X
Feature 2 common problems
X X X X
X X
Safety Summary
X X X X X
Training Assessment
X
Product 1 Documentation
Topics
Your Topic Map

Deeper content analysis
User’s Guide Quick Ref Card Quick Start Card
Step 1 Step 1 Step 1
*”Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy”
Insert the test strip.
Make sure the
contact bars go in
end first and facing
up. The meter will
turn on
automatically.
Insert the test strip.
After inserted,
meter turns on
automatically.
Insert the test strip
to turn on the
meter.
Step 2 Step 2 Step 2…

Significant benefits during translation
Allows for agile or modular translation
TM Reuse Maximized
Quality: Terminology and Style

Step 4 –Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content
Need a little motivation? Let’s talk numbers.
Where there is content reuse, there is translation reuse!!

Food for thought…
Handling Reviews and Approvals

Step Five:
Manage Content: Implementing XML

Step 5 – Manage Content: Implementing XML
Why XML?
Separates content from output
Store, Index and Manage content
CMS (Content Management System)
What DTP??

Step 5 – Manage Content: Implementing XML
Case Studies:
1 Writing team recognizing reuse potential but no idea where to begin
2 Writing team migrating content to Structured FrameMaker
3 XML solution for one large project; many contributors

Case Study 1 - Challenge
Company wanted a new authoring platform
CMS not an option
Technology levels varied
Aggressive deadlines looming

Case Study 1 - Assessment
Content development options
Localization requirements play a significant role
In-country review issues

Case Study 1 - Solution
Follow the steps
XML now, CMS later
Hands-on training
Plan for the future

Company-wide migration from Word to SFM
Project deadline with a large documentation set
Writers completely unfamiliar with XML

Authoring issues
Skipping steps
Review requirements

XML and DTP
Single-sourcing
A work in progress…

300 page Operator’s Manual in InDesign
8 target languages
Regular updates

Lack of knowledge base and style guide
File preparation and DTP
No review process in place
XML?

What did XML buy them?
DTP
Consistency
Updates
Future potential

References
• Microsoft Corporation Editorial Style Board, 2004. The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical
Publications – Third Edition. Washington: Microsoft Press.
• Read more about topic-based authoring at DITA XML.org – the online resource for information
regarding the DITA OASIS Standard: DITA.XML.ORG
• Rockley, Ann. 2003. Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy. Callifornia: New
Riders
About Language Intelligence:
Language Intelligence Ltd. provides professional language services to companies that are
doing business globally. We work with a highly qualified network of translators around the
world who are professional, subject matter experts. Our staff's extensive expertise in
localization will help turn your company's innovative ideas into a global success. Our
experienced project management and technical staff will create a customized process to
meet your project requirements. LI's goal is to give your company the tools to succeed in
international markets. Localizing your product or service for any locale can be a success
when LI works directly with your development and marketing teams from the start. For
more information, visit http://www.languageintelligence.com

Internationalizing Your Content

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Internationalizing Your Content

Similar to Internationalizing Your Content (20)

More from Carolina Chapter of STC

More from Carolina Chapter of STC (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Internationalizing Your Content