Software Localization

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Internationalization

Successful software localization begins with internationalization – the process of making changes to your code so that it works with other languages and scripts. This means that the text for translation can be easily round-tripped in and out of the application. Andovar provides a free initial audit of internationalization issues, and we can show you how to use pseudo-translation techniques to identify such issues as:

String concatenation or insertion: In English, strings can be appended to form whole sentences, but this fails in many European languages where words must change depending on their neighbors.

Abgegrenzte Erlöse nach Staat

Testing System

Linguist's comment

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Software LocalizationInternationalization, Testing and Workflow

DECEMBER 2014


Text expansion: Translation typically causes text to get between 10% and 40% longer. In languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean, the text will shrink horizontally, but expand vertically, while in Thai both issues will occur. This can easily break the layout, especially on smaller displays.

Hard-coded text: Text displayed to users should be kept in external files or a database. Text that is in-line with code will be difficult to localize.

Bi-directionality: Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu and other languages flow both right to left and left to right. Exten-sive adaption, which includes flipping the layout horizontally, is needed to support these languages.

Units and cultural considerations: Internationalization also includes:

• presenting units in a format appropriate to international users (e.g. metric or imperial), • different calendars (e.g. Gregorian or Buddhist), • working weeks (e.g. in some countries in the Middle East end-of-week holiday is on Friday), • currencies, • phone number conventions (use of brackets and hyphens differs between countries).

It is also important to consider cultural sensibilities towards images chosen for icons or illustrations.

English Arabic

English German

2Software Localization


Linguistic Testing

Testing is the last step, but it needs to be considered at the beginning. User interface strings often do not make sense without context. For some software applications, translation can be done in a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) manner by using specialized tools, but typically a test environment and several rounds of testing are necessary.

Testing should start with the most problematic target language (for example: Polish for grammar, Chinese for char-acter sets, Arabic for bi-directionality) as issues in that language are likely to occur in others. Andovar can work with your functional testing team to identify the most efficient process for testing localized software.

If translators will not have real-time access to the UI strings in context, then processes to mitigate context errors need to be implemented. This includes annotating hard-to-comprehend strings and variables, giving translators tools to quickly locate where in the UI they are used, managing linguistic queries through the project, as well as employing glossaries and style guides.

Glossaries and Style Guides

Product-specific terminology should be agreed upon before translation starts. This includes terms that occur frequently and need to be consistent across a product. It is possible to leverage existing glossaries, but each appli-cation has its own key terms. Identifying them upfront, rather than during the review process is essential for efficient localization. Glossaries are a reusable asset that belong to the buyer. A glossary is more than a list of terms and their translations, and should also identify what parts of speech they are and include examples of usage. Ando-var can help create a glossary template tailored for your organization.

Glossary terms in the sidebar of a CAT tool.



Style guides are another key asset to promote consistency and standardization among stakeholders. It is important that style guides are living documents, whereby reviewer feedback becomes reusable and actionable instructions. You can see a sample section from a style guide below.



Legend:

Client Steps

Andovar Steps

File Process &Translation

Client Review(if requested)

Post-Processing(Engineering) Quality Assurance Delivery

Prepare Filesfor client review

Reassemble insource format &

update TM

Validate / QA filesin source formats

Linguistic &Functional Testing.

Bug report generated.

Regression Testing

Yes

Client Review?(Optional)

Client Approval

Translation

Editing

Final Eye

Project Managerreleases files to client

Client reassemblyon staging server

Client review &submission of

comments

Andovar assessescomments &

enters changes

ResourceFiles

XMLContent

Pre-process files for translation

Prepare Style Guideand Glossary

Accepted? Final Files Released

Project CompletedNo

No

Yes

Technology and Workflow

Managing changes and updates to your software or content is a difficult and ongoing process that is often more complex and demanding than the initial localization. There are many Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tools and Translation Management System (TMS) products that assist, manage and track changes across fields and languag-es. Unlike many other localization service providers, Andovar does not produce or sell software or technology. This allows us to give unbiased advice to our clients on the best-fit products for their venture.

Typical features of CAT tools and TMSs include:

• Workbench environment optimized for translators, editors and reviewers • Automatic word count and progress reporting • Detection of changed content and automatic routing to translators • Managing linguists and the live monitoring of progress • Round-tripping text for translation from multiple source formats to translator’s tools and back again • Integration into existing content-creation workflows • QA checks for consistency and suspicious, missing or overly long translations • Automatic propagation of previously translated strings • “Fuzzy matching” to leverage strings that are similar to previous translations • Resizing dialog boxes in real time • Connectivity to Content Management Systems (CMSs) via APIs



Cloud Software

The cloud and software-as-a-service are changing the way software is localized. Simultaneous release of localized versions (sim-ship) has become the norm. Established software companies use mature coding and Agile methodol-ogies honed for localization over time, but cloud software is typically developed with little thought for international-ization and localization. Functional and linguistic QA is complicated by the difficulty of replicating the server-client relationships at a distance.

Cloud software is often a clear step forward in the end-user experience at the cost of being a step backward in terms of localization best practices. The best way to tackle localization and internationalization issues in cloud software is by involving your localization provider at all points in the development cycle.

Language Specific Issues

The challenges for localization of software differ by language and culture. A localization process that is smooth between closely related languages and cultures may fail in other locales.

• Some languages (e.g. Finnish, German, Vietnamese and Thai) greatly expand after translation • Some languages (e.g. Thai, Burmese and Lao) have no spaces between words and line-breaking is an

issue • Minimum font sizes for readability vary by language (e.g. Chinese, Arabic and Thai) • Some languages have no fixed-width fonts (e.g. Thai) • Some languages read both left-to-right and right-to-left (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew and Urdu)

• In emerging market languages, there is often no established terminology in subjects related to modern technology. In these situations, clients can either choose the terms actually used in-country or try to enforce new terminology.

As a rule, languages and cultures that are more linguistically and geographically distant from English and Europe have more challenges. Localizing into French and Spanish from English poses far fewer technical difficulties than localizing into Asian languages from emerging markets.


Singapore (HQ)

Andovar Pte Ltd#14-01 Equity Plaza20 Cecil StreetSingapore 049705

Phone: +65 6532-1281Fax: +65 [email protected]

Thailand

Andovar (Thailand) Limited261/2 Sukhumvit 49/15Klong Tan Nua, WattanaBangkok 10110

Phone: +662 712-7196Fax: +662 [email protected]

Colombia

Andovar SASCR 43ª Sur N° 9-91Torre Empresarial Las VillasTorre Norte Of 1103El Poblado, Medellín

Phone: +57 4 581 [email protected]

India

Andovar Localization Services Pvt LtdUnit No. A-10, 6th floorChaterjee International Centre33A Chowringee RoadKolkata, West Bengal 700071

Phone: +91 33 [email protected]

United States

Andovar LLC80 S.W.8th StreetSuite 2000Miami, Florida 33130

Phone: +1 305 [email protected]

The Andovar Advantage

Andovar is a global provider of multilingual content solutions. Our services range from text translation and content creation, through audio and video recording, to turnkey localization of websites, software, eLearning, video and games. Our headquarters is in Singapore, and offices in Thailand, Colombia, USA and India.

We started in Southeast Asia, with Western ownership and management. Placing production in low-cost countries has allowed us to offer more competitive pricing, while keeping quality at the highest international level. Andovar focuses on emerging markets and technologies, such as mobile, gaming, multimedia and cloud software. Emerging markets are the new frontier in localization and where others struggle with complex scripts and lack of standards, Andovar has the expertise to succeed.

We are a medium-sized company that is small enough to be agile and adaptable, yet big enough to handle projects of any size. While others try to automate everything and make localization a play-by-numbers game, Andovar creates customized solutions for each client to meet their needs and budgets. Andovar is employee-owned, and everyone has a stake in our clients’ success.

We do not sell any software solutions and we use the latest technology ourselves, which allows us to give impartial advice to our clients. A wide range of professional talent from across the world coupled with our own audio studios means we are a one-stop-shop for all localization projects regardless of size, type and languages required.

This is how we help our clients Make Themselves Clear in Any Language.

Software Localization

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