Download as PDF, PPTX
Uploaded byLaura Dent
Single-Sourcing and Localization
The document outlines the concepts of single-sourcing and localization in technical writing, explaining their definitions, benefits, challenges, and best practices. It emphasizes the importance of adapting content for various languages and regions while maintaining quality and consistency. The author, Laura Dent, shares her extensive experience as a freelance technical writer and provides tools and strategies for effective localization.
More Related Content
Similar to Single-Sourcing and Localization
Single-Sourcing and Localization
- 1. Single-Sourcing and Localization Leveraging ContentAcross Languages Laura Dent Freelance Technical Writer
- 2. Overview Combining Single-Sourcing andLocalization • Relationships, Processes, and Definitions • Benefits • Challenges • Best Practices, Tips and Tricks • Tools
- 3. About Me: LauraDent • Writer since I was 5 • Languages since I was in elementary school • Majored in Russian at Harvard • Technical Writer since 1986 • Freelance since 2012
- 4. About Me, cont’d Currentand Recent Clients • Venga Global • Advanced Language Translations • Aker Wade • ShareStream • Venture Interactive • Previously, Rosetta Stone
- 5. About You Poll: • Single-Sourcing? • Localization? • Both?
- 6.
- 7. Process You Language Service Provider (LSP) In-Country Review(ICR) – You or LSP You or LSP You or LSP
- 8. Definitions • Single-Sourcing: Useof a single document or set of files to produce multiple outputs. • Localization: The process of adapting a product or document to the language and location of the target market.
- 9. Definitions, cont’d • Globalization:Business strategy for expanding markets to multiple regions in the world. • Internationalization: Design of a product or service to be readily adaptable to different languages and locations. • Localization: The process of adapting a product or document to the language and location of the target market. • Translation: The process of recreating content in a different language.
- 10. Definitions, cont’d Locale: Combinationof the language and location, such as French-France (fr-FR) or French-Canada (fr-CA). Examples - English: • Localize, color, truck – American English (en-US) • Localise, colour, lorry – British English (en-BR) Spanish: • Montacargas (forklift), equalización (equalization) – Latin American Spanish (es-419) • Caretilla elevadora (toro – colloq.), igualación – Spanish-Spain (es-ES)
- 11. In other words… Think Globally … … Act Locally
- 12. Benefits of Single-Sourcing • Cost savings – multiple outputs from one master • Ease of maintenance – update all versions at once • Quality control – all documents in sync
- 13. Benefits of Single-Sourcingand Localization • Cost savings multiplied – translate once for all variations • Ease of maintenance – across languages (translate updates) • Quality control – all languages in sync
- 14. Challenges • Linguistic –grammar differences, variables • Formatting – word length, paper sizes • Quality – how to verify? Need in-country review
- 15. Best Practices • Writing:clean, concise • Writing for single-sourcing • Writing for translation
- 16. Writing for Single-Sourcing • Structured content – topic-based • Variables and conditionals: • Variables: Single elements with discrete options • Conditionals: Longer passages • Start from master document • Anticipate single-sourcing if possible • Or, retrofit: compare existing documents
- 17. Writing for Translation • Simplified language • Terminology • Grammar • English quirks to avoid if possible: • Noun stacks • Gerunds • Idioms • Cultural references
- 18. Writing for Single-Sourcingand Localization • Right unit to translate: paragraph/sentence? Workarounds. • Word order – German/Japanese: verb at end • Articles, combined forms • Gender – grammatical issues • Number – Russian/Japanese: “small plurals”
- 19. Internationalization • Software anddocumentation • Measuring units • Date formats • First/last names • Addresses • Word length – allow room for text to expand • Formats: 8.5x11 vs. A4
- 20. Tips and Tricks:Articles Articles with variables – a, an, the – for example, in English: Install a <brandname>. Install a A-brand. Install a B-brand. Install <article-brand> <brandname>. Set <article-brand> = <an> for A-brand, <a> for B-brand. Install an A-brand. Install a B-brand.
- 21. Tips and Tricks:Articles, cont’d Articles in French: Installer le <brandname>. Installer le A-brand. Installer le B-brand. Installer <Fr-article-brand> <brandname>. Set <Fr-article-brand> = <l’> for A-brand, <le> for B-brand. Installer l’A-brand. Installer le B-brand.
- 22. Tips and Tricks:Articles, cont’d Better yet, rewrite to remove the article issues: English: Install the <brandname> device. Install the A-brand device. Install the B-brand device. French: Installer l’unité <brandname>. Installer l’unité A-brand. Installer l’unité B-brand.
- 23. Tips and Tricks:Articles, cont’d “to the” a + la = a la a + le = au a + l' = a l' a + les = aux Allez <Fr-to-the> <brandname>. Allez a l’A-brand. Allez au B-brand. “of the” de + la = de la de + le = du de + l' = de l' de + les = des Installation <Fr-of-the> A-brand. Installation de l’A-brand. Installation du B-brand. French combined forms: search for “to the” and “of the” before just “the”
- 24. Tips and Tricks:Grammar Don’t use variables for common words. “The <device/machine> should be plugged in. Then, turn it on.” French: • L’appareil doit être branché. Puis, allumez-le. • La machine doit être branchée. Puis, allumez-la. Example courtesy Jennifer Schudel, Advanced Language Translations
- 25. Tools • SmartDocs fromThirtySix Software • Plugin to Word • Word and pdf outputs • MadCap Flare • Topic-based • Multiple output formats • Graphics – integration with MadCap Capture • Localization engineering
- 26.
- 27. References • Jennifer Schudel,Advanced Language Translations: Presentation, “Five Things to Consider When Developing Multilingual Content” http://www.madcapsoftware.com/demos/player.aspx? v=2197c5687bd28 http://assets.madcapsoftware.com/webinar/ Presentation_FiveThingsFlareTranslation.pdf • Dave Nealon, Series: Optimizing the Localization Process https://tonewords.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/why-does- localization-take-so-long-2/