| > | | | | graphics, and PDF files. These will have to be localized |
| Your company is expanding to foreign markets and | | | | as well. It's in your best interest to send the native |
| you've been chosen to oversee the localization of | | | | PhotoShop and Illustrator files that were used to |
| your company's web site. You built the web site and | | | | create the GIFs and JPEGs on your web site! Also, |
| you know all about it: every page, each navigation | | | | some languages such as French and Spanish are |
| button; scripting, coding, applets, cascading style sheets, | | | | often longer than English. So, you should keep this text |
| etc. But you don't have a clue about the translation | | | | expansion in mind when you create your initial graphics |
| process. At this point, you are doing some research | | | | to allow for longer text. The desktop publishing |
| about translation and localization and may seek some | | | | specialist at your localization company will keep the |
| guidance. You need a plan - identifying possible | | | | background image and will reconstruct the layers |
| challenges and implementing the most cost-effective | | | | containing text and merge them to make the target |
| processes. | | | | language images for web. |
| Here are some tips that can help you for website | | | | 6. Do some testing after the initial localization is done to |
| translation: | | | | make sure that the site looks good and works |
| 1. Do not translate your web site only because | | | | properly. Check the visuals first. Then do some |
| everybody is doing it. Carefully evaluate your business | | | | functionality testing (such as creating and filling out a |
| needs and establish performance indicators to | | | | test form) to see if any function was lost during the |
| measure your success (or lack thereof). Most | | | | translation process. Check to make sure that all |
| managers these days demand return investment on all | | | | necessary pages have been uploaded and translated, |
| marketing activities. It will be to your advantage to be | | | | all the links are working, and that the translated text |
| able to show bottom line improvements (i.e. online sales | | | | can be viewed properly (your developer should |
| in Germany increased 20% or support calls dropped | | | | change the character encoding according to the target |
| by 10% after we launched the German web site). | | | | language). |
| 2. Identify which section of the web site needs to be | | | | In addition, you should perform testing to ensure that |
| translated and define a handoff process to your | | | | your web site works well on different platforms, |
| translation vendor. Some of the web pages are simple | | | | operating systems and browsers at this phase. |
| HTML files which can be easily opened and translated. | | | | Make sure that the translator or agency understands |
| But with anything non-HTML, the text often has to be | | | | how browsers work with special characters (diacritics). |
| extracted. This category includes all the graphics that | | | | If your localizer is working or making revisions on the |
| contain text, Flash files, and PDF files. | | | | translated text in HTML mode, be careful to never |
| 3. Try to provide your translator with all of the source | | | | enter characters with accents into the code itself. |
| files from the very beginning (such as cost estimating). | | | | Certain browsers could display the web page |
| Do not copy and paste every page of your web site | | | | incorrectly. |
| in a Word file. It is not necessary and can be time | | | | 7. Some translators will try to differentiate the localized |
| consuming. Even though your translator can download | | | | files from the source files by adding a distinguishing |
| all the files from your web site, it is still a much better | | | | extension for each language (the French file for |
| practice to hand over all the files relating to the web | | | | home.html will be named home_fr.html). When this |
| site. Word count and cost estimates can be very | | | | happens, every link reference in every file will need to |
| inaccurate if the translator doesn't have all of the files | | | | be renamed to point to the right link. This will be time |
| to work with. | | | | consuming and it will increase the possibility of creating |
| Actually, if you have a dynamic web site, the word | | | | errors. Instead of doing this, it is better to store each |
| counting could be off by a long shot because of the | | | | language version in its own folder. |
| unnecessary repetitions. | | | | 8. Almost every target language requires localization of |
| 4. Make sure that your translator uses a translation | | | | measurement systems, date format, punctuation, the |
| memory (TM) tool. A TM tool keeps all the translated | | | | thousands/decimal system, and colours. Everyone |
| material in a database and makes it available for any | | | | involved in the localization process should have cultural |
| future updates. Using a TM tool can help you save | | | | sensitivity to avoid offensive content. |
| money, improve consistency, and speed up turnaround. | | | | 9. Pay attention to web site layout when localizing in a |
| In addition, working within a TM tool, tags and script | | | | language like Arabic or Hebrew. Because these are |
| code are recognized and protected during content | | | | right to left languages, it is most likely necessary to |
| translation. | | | | redesign the layout (especially when your web site has |
| Provide your translator with any available reference | | | | navigation bars on the left). |
| material such as translation guidelines, previous | | | | 10. If you want to optimize your multilingual site you |
| translations and glossaries. The guidelines can address | | | | should be aware that not all major search engines are |
| issues such as what terms should be left in English, | | | | working properly with foreign pages and your web site |
| punctuation, adaptation of date/time format, addresses, | | | | may not be listed in many of them. Also, the |
| symbols, and measurement systems. A glossary is a | | | | terminology your translators prefer (however correct |
| multilingual terminology list that defines how | | | | or appropriate) might be VERY different from what |
| abbreviations, product names, or industry specific | | | | your customers are using to find you. You must |
| terms should be translated. If the translator is using a | | | | understand how your customers search online to |
| translation memory tool, these glossaries can be | | | | effectively achieve high rankings and good online |
| imported to ensure consistency. | | | | results. You should do research on what the major |
| 5. Provide your translation vendor with original graphic | | | | local search engines are and what your competition is |
| files including navigation buttons, Flash objects, textual | | | | doing. |