Single-Sourcing and Localization

Maximizing Content Across Languages

Laura Dent Freelance Technical Writer

www.linkedin.com/in/lauradentwriter

@laurainspace

Overview

•  Goals

•  About Me

•  About You

•  Definitions

•  Localization in Action

•  Benefits

•  Challenges

•  Process

•  Best Practices, Tips and Tricks

•  Tools

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Goals

•  You learn what you need to know about single-sourcing and localization

•  You gain some ideas for first steps – or next steps – in your localization process

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About Me: Laura Dent

•  Freelance technical writer specializing in single-sourcing and localization; clients include translation companies and product companies

•  Adjunct faculty at James Madison University, teaching Technical Communication for Computer Science

•  Formerly at Rosetta Stone, language-learning software company; localized software and documentation

•  Majored in Russian at Harvard

•  Studied languages since I was in elementary school

•  Wanted to be a writer since I was 5

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About You

•  Poll: What are you already doing, or looking to do?

•  Single-Sourcing?

•  Localization?

•  Both?

•  Software?

•  Documentation?

•  Both?

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Definitions

Single-Sourcing: Use of a single document or set of files to produce multiple outputs.

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Definitions

Single-Sourcing can leverage content across the organization.

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Definitions

Localization: The process of translation plus adapting a product or document to the language and location of the target market.

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Definitions

•  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.

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Definitions

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Definitions

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Think Globally …

… Act Locally

Localization in Action

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Benefits

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 – update all languages (translate updates)

•  Quality control – all languages in sync

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Challenges

•  Linguistic – grammar differences, variables

•  Formatting – word length, paper sizes, screen size (software)

•  Quality – how to verify? Need in-country review

•  Cultural, legal, ethical issues

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Process

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You

Language Service Provider (LSP)

In-Country Review (ICR) – You or LSP

You or LSP

You or LSP

Process

1.  Writing (You)

2.  Single-Sourcing

3.  Prepare for Localization

4.  Localization (LSP)

5.  Localization Engineering (You or LSP)

6.  Linguistic QA

7.  Implement Linguistic QA

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Process

1. Writing

•  Clean, concise

•  Simplified language •  Terminology •  Grammar

•  English quirks to avoid if possible: •  Noun stacks •  Gerunds •  Idioms •  Cultural references

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Process

1. 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”

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Process

2. Single-Sourcing

•  Structured content – topic-based

•  Variations in content •  Variables: Single elements with discrete options

•  Conditionals: Longer passages (sentence)

•  Snippets: Standalone elements (paragraph)

•  Start from master document •  Anticipate single-sourcing if possible

•  Or, retrofit: compare existing documents

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Process

3. Prepare for Localization

•  Coordinate with your Language Services Provider (LSP).

•  Create localized glossaries.

•  Create a style guide for each language (including English).

•  Adapt images for localization. •  Localized screen shots. •  Callouts – layered text.

•  Allow for text expansion – reposition as needed.

•  Provide plenty of context for translators – notes, screen shots, training.

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Process: Images

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Process: Images

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Process

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Process

3. Prepare for Localization

•  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

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Process

4. Localization

•  Translation of text

•  Adaptation of files and formats

•  International dates, measurements, conventions

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Process

5. Localization Engineering (You or LSP)

•  Import translated files into single-sourcing system

•  Reformat as needed

•  Create outputs

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Process

6. Linguistic QA

•  Send output to in-country experts for language review

•  Specific directions for how to make changes or give feedback

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Process

7. Implement Linguistic QA

•  Receive feedback and revise single-sourcing system

•  Recreate final outputs

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Tips and Tricks

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)

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Tips and Tricks

Articles with variables – a, an, the – for example, in English:

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Install a <brandname>. Install a A-brand. Install a B-brand.

Install <a-brand> <brandname>. Set <a-brand> = <an> for A-brand, <a> for B-brand.

Install an A-brand. Install a B-brand.

Tips and Tricks

Articles in French (translation of “the”):

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Installer le <brandname>. Installer le A-brand. Installer le B-brand.

Installer <Fr-the-brand> <brandname>. Set <Fr-the-brand> = <l’> for A-brand, <le> for B-brand.

Installer l’A-brand. Installer le B-brand.

Tips and Tricks

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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.

Better yet, rewrite the source text to remove the article issues:

Tips and Tricks

Grammar issues:

•  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

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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

•  Options for localization: Lingo, MadTranslations

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Goals: Review

•  You learn what you need to know about single-sourcing and localization

•  You gain some ideas for first steps – or next steps – in your localization process

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Thank You!

Questions?

Laura Dent

www.lauradentwriter.com

laura@lauradentwriter.com

www.linkedin.com/in/lauradentwriter

@laurainspace

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References

•  John Collins, Writing for Localization http://www.intersectux.com/blog/2014/07/20/writing-for-localization-part-1/ and Strategies for Friendly English and Successful Localization bit.ly/idw14jrc

•  Go to John’s related presentation at the STC Summit, Tuesday at 2:15: Building Quality Experiences for Users in Any Language http://sched.co/5o0S

•  Venga Global – I (Laura Dent) actually wrote the eBook: Single-Sourcing: Translate Once, Reuse Many Times http://blog.vengaglobal.com/single-sourcing-translate-once-reuse-many-times

•  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

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