single-sourcing and localization
TRANSCRIPT
Single-Sourcing and Localization
Leveraging Content Across Languages
Laura Dent Freelance Technical Writer
Overview
Combining Single-Sourcing and Localization
• Relationships, Processes, and Definitions
• Benefits
• Challenges
• Best Practices, Tips and Tricks
• Tools
About Me: Laura Dent
• Writer since I was 5
• Languages since I was in elementary school
• Majored in Russian at Harvard
• Technical Writer since 1986
• Freelance since 2012
About Me, cont’d
Current and Recent Clients
• Venga Global
• Advanced Language Translations
• Aker Wade
• ShareStream
• Venture Interactive
• Previously, Rosetta Stone
Process
You
Language Service Provider (LSP)
In-Country Review (ICR) – You or LSP
You or LSP
You or LSP
Definitions
• Single-Sourcing: Use of 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.
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.
Definitions, cont’d
Locale: Combination of 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)
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
Benefits of Single-Sourcing and Localization
• Cost savings multiplied – translate once for all variations
• Ease of maintenance – across languages (translate updates)
• Quality control – all languages in sync
Challenges
• Linguistic – grammar differences, variables
• Formatting – word length, paper sizes
• Quality – how to verify? Need in-country review
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
Writing for Translation
• Simplified language • Terminology • Grammar
• English quirks to avoid if possible: • Noun stacks • Gerunds • Idioms • Cultural references
Writing for Single-Sourcing and 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”
Internationalization
• Software and documentation • Measuring units
• Date formats
• First/last names
• Addresses
• Word length – allow room for text to expand
• Formats: 8.5x11 vs. A4
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.
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.
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.
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”
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
Tools
• SmartDocs from ThirtySix Software • Plugin to Word • Word and pdf outputs
• MadCap Flare • Topic-based • Multiple output formats • Graphics – integration with MadCap Capture • Localization engineering
Thank You!
Questions?
Laura Dent
www.lauradentwriter.com
www.linkedin.com/in/lauradentwriter
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/