Single-Sourcing and Localization

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

About You

Poll:

•  Single-Sourcing?

•  Localization?

•  Both?

Relationships

Writing

Single-Sourcing Localization

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)

In other words …

Think Globally …

… Act Locally

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

Best Practices

•  Writing: clean, concise

•  Writing for single-sourcing

•  Writing for translation

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.


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.


“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

[email protected]

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/