Translation: Cost vs User Experience 11.27.2006

Agenda Subject Overview What to do? Costs Techniques Site Examples Discussion

Subject Overview

What to do?

Costs

Techniques

Site Examples

Discussion

What to do? Should I translate? How much? Should I show only content that is translated? Or show both translated and non-translated content? Do I put the native content up before it is translated or after? What about search?

Should I translate? How much?

Should I show only content that is translated? Or show both translated and non-translated content?

Do I put the native content up before it is translated or after?

What about search?

Costs: Money

Cost: Time

Costs: Your Brand

Techniques Human Translation (central) Human Translation (local) Machine Translation Dialect or Language Navigation Only High volume content only Centralized content Local content Translated or localized

Human Translation (central)

Human Translation (local)

Machine Translation

Dialect or Language

Navigation Only

High volume content only

Centralized content

Local content

Translated or localized

Know Your Users!

General Electric

General Electric

General Electric

Analog Devices

Analog Devices

Analog Devices

Bose

Bose

Bose

Subway

Subway

Subway

Amazon

Amazon

L.L. Bean

L.L. Bean

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Aetna

Aetna

Babel Fish – The Good

Babel Fish

Babel Fish – The Bad

“ Is it ok to translate just my navigation, but not my content? ”

“ Is it ok to translate just my navigation,

but not my content? ”

“ Should I translate only high-volume pages and show other pages in my local language to save money?”

“ Should I translate only high-volume pages

and show other pages in my local

language to save money?”

“ Should search results display pages that are just in the selected languages or all pages that relate to the topic?”

“ Should search results display pages

that are just in the selected languages

or all pages that relate to the topic?”

“ What should I do if a users browser has a specific default language selected?”

“ What should I do if a users browser has a

specific default language selected?”

“ Should a wait until my content is translated to post any version of the content or get the local version up right away?”

“ Should a wait until my content is translated

to post any version of the content or get

the local version up right away?”

“ What are the pros and cons to automated translation applications? Is there a hybrid model that can be successful?”

“ What are the pros and cons to automated

translation applications? Is there a hybrid

model that can be successful?”

Final Thoughts Always provide links to the localized sites in the global navigation Focus on localizing the most important aspects of the site, and leave the other ones Let users know if you’re switching them to the another language Ensuring that search is usable for all languages, not only one Stay away from humor – it does not translate well. Provide contact information for all countries Don’t swap language toggles within the different localizations

Always provide links to the localized sites in the global navigation

Focus on localizing the most important aspects of the site, and leave the other ones

Let users know if you’re switching them to the another language

Ensuring that search is usable for all languages, not only one

Stay away from humor – it does not translate well.

Provide contact information for all countries

Don’t swap language toggles within the different localizations