The most common BiDi localization issues

1. BiDi Localization Issues
A BiDi textisa mixture of characterswithina text,where some are readfromlefttorightand others
fromright to left.Bidirectionallanguage orBiDi language isalanguage that’sreadand writtenfrom
Rightto Left.For some reasons,some LefttoRighttextcomeswithinthe RighttoLeft textandthat’s
whyit’scalledBiDi textorBiDi language. Some examplesof BiDi languagesare Arabic,Hebrew,Persian,
Urdu (Pakistan),Uyghur(PRC),…
There are several issuesyoumustkeep inmindwhen localizingaproductto a BiDi language.
BiDi Text Direction
In a BiDi language,textis writteninright-to-leftdirection howeverthere maybe some neutral
characters,numeralsandLatin wordsincluded inthe textanddisplayedleft-to-right.Suchissuesmust
be fixedusingthe BiDi Unicode Markers. Unicode providesspecial,invisibleformattingcodestosetthe
base directionforor to override the bidirectional algorithminplaintext.
Layout
As BiDi languagesare Right-to-Leftlanguages, the localizedproduct requiresatotal adaptationof both
the userinterface andthe overall design.Whateverthe localizedproductis(software,website,
document,…),everythingshouldbe inRTL direction.Windows,dialogs,message boxes,menus,buttons
and everysingle UIitemshouldbe flippedto be inRTL direction. The waytoget the layoutinRTL
directiondiffersaccordingtothe type of the product to be localized.
Arts (images and graphics)
A productmay containa piece of art (image) orsome pieces. Whenlocalizingaproductto a BiDi
language,artsshouldbe localizedaswell. Localizingapiece of art isa bitcomplex processasthe art
piece maycontaintextthat needstobe translated andobjectsneedtobe flipped.All the textinthe art
piece shouldbe extracted,translatedtothe targetlanguage andaddedbackto the art piece. Other
objectsinan art piece (like otherimages,screenshots,diagrams,shapes,…) shouldbe localizedaswell
and if theyrequire flipping,theyshouldbe flipped. The onlyartsthat shouldn’tbe flippedare logos.
An importantartpiece that mustbe carefullylocalizedisthe helpiconhavingaquestionmark. Asthe
questionmarkof all the BiDi languagesisindifferentdirectionthanthe Englishone,helpiconsshould
be flippedtohave the questionmarkthe same directionof the targetBiDi language.Hebrew isan
exceptionasthe Hebrewquestionmarkisthe same as the Englishone.So,the Hebrew helpiconshould
NOT be flipped.