The Wales-Wide Web

I have been doing a bit of work helping coordinate the translation of the different strings to allow language localized version of the ELGG learning landscapes software. This has led to some discussion over the localization should be carried out and in particular, over the problem of translating strings which have a connotative meaning ion one language but not in another.

George Bekiaridis has reminded me of a text he wrote for a series of seminars on the use of ICT for learning in SMEs. All the papers can be found here (curiously they are also available on a University of Stirling web site claiming copyright which they most certainly do not have). Rereading it, it seemed of some value - especially in the context that many more 'non techies' are increasingly involved in localization efforts for open source software. Nice one, George!

What is Localization?
 
Localization is the process of adapting a product or service to a particular language, culture, and desired local "look-and-feel." Ideally, a product or service is developed so that localization is relatively easy to achieve - for example, by creating technical illustrations for manuals in which the text can easily be changed to another language and allowing some expansion room for this purpose. This enabling process is termed internationalisation. An internationalised product or service is therefore easier to localize. The process of first enabling a product or service to be localized and then localizing it for different national audiences is sometimes known as globalisation.
In localizing a product, in addition to idiomatic language translation, such details as time zones, money, national holidays, local colour sensitivities, product or service names, gender roles, and geographic examples must all be considered. A successfully localized service or product is one that appears to have been developed within the local culture.      
 
e-Learning Content and Software localization for a specific Country and a specific target group
 
Before stating localization of e-learning content and software we must exactly specify the following:
 
•           Target country and market (ex. Greek Vocational Training Institutes)
•           Target audience (ex. Trainees and trainers)
•           Use of content and software (ex. Informal continues training, supportive training etc)
 
Localized content and software has to meet the specifications and objectives of context within will be deployed.

Technorati Tags: open source, localization

Extended text for this entry:

e-Learning Content and Software localization for a specific Country and a specific target group
 
Before stating localization of e-learning content and software we must exactly specify the following:
 
•           Target country and market (ex. Greek Vocational Training Institutes)
•           Target audience (ex. Trainees and trainers)
•           Use of content and software (ex. Informal continues training, supportive training etc)
 
Localized content and software has to meet the specifications and objectives of context within will be deployed.
 
Technical Translation
 
Localization process mainly based on technical translation and as described above in cultural adaptation.
 
Technical translation is in contrast with literal translation. It covers not only translation of technical or technological texts but all the texts that: a) belong to human knowledge (science, arts, economy etc) b) usually contain specific terminology.
 
Technical translation is a kind of interpretation and somehow or other the result of it hasn‘t the same aim with prototype, it is not realized in the same context and of course it hasn’t the same target group.      
 
Localization Methodology
 
Some years ago localization of software was simple process, included just manuals and user interface translation.  Translators with average skills were good enough to run localization projects. Today things are more complex. Multimedia applications, including elearning applications are became more sophisticated and there is a dramatic increase of multimedia applications users. High quality applications and content is produced now from local software companies in small countries (ex. Greece) and the market become more cautious to localized software and content.
 
Translation is a major part of localization process but in most of cases just a “translated” product doesn’t appear to have been developed within the local culture.
 
 
Methodology
 
Technical translation as mentioned above is the first step for localization. Technical translation must begin with a detailed reading of content, this reading must be :
 
•           Dynamic. Reader (translator) must understand the meaning instead of a simple reading.
•           Part of the appropriation process of the terms and term relations included in content.
 
Dynamic reading is not just understanding of content but extended to search of related documentation and complete understanding of content’s subject. For example you cannot localize elearning content for total quality management if you don’t know anything about management.
 
Knowing only the language that original content is written it’s not enough for localization. Important issue is not the words meaning but phrases meaning.  In technical translation to keep the same dictionary is not important. Important is the transfer of information to a specific target group that has no access to the original content. For example English phrase “b Cep type variable stars” could be used in Greek using the term “Kifides”, a term that preserve the meaning of original phrase.
 
Terminology
 
In technical translation terminology is an important issue. A lot of times use of right terms is a nightmare for translators. There are two key points for terminology :
•           Lot of times a term in source language corresponds with more than one term in target language or vice versa.  
•           Some terms, especially in Information Technology are invented last years and there isn’t something equivalent in target language.
 
What is localized
 
The localization of elearing content is applied in different parts of contents such as :
 
•           Texts
•           Video narrations or subtitles
•           Images descriptions
•           User interface commands and menu items
•           Set up information and instructions
•           Help information
•           Error messages
•           Documentation
 
Attention must be given to:
 
•           Terminology: Use of official dictionaries is imposed
•           User interface commands and menu items: Translation must provide the term corresponding in the appropriate function
•           Compatibility: Same terms must be used in all parts of content (texts, help texts, documentation etc)
•           Style: Same style must kept in whole content 
 
 
Culture Aspects
 
Cultural adaptation is one of the most important issues in elearning content localization. Cultural adaptation is not subject of translation only, is something more. Elearning content in some cases must be differentiated to meet the cultural preferences of target language. 
 
Attention must be given to:
•           Idioms
•           Humor
•           Gestures
•           Pictures
•           Sounds
•           Fashion
•           Religion
•           Values and symbols
•           History
•           Laws
•           Colors
•           Ethics and morality
 
Above list is suggestive. Every type of content has its own needs for cultural adaptation during localization.
 
 
 
Technical Aspects
 
Beyond translation and cultural adaptation there are some technical aspects must be considered in elearning content localization. 
 
•           Character encoding
•           Fonts
•           Dates and numbers format
•           Measures
•           Rearrangement of shapes, images, texts
•           Replacement/modification of images including text
•           Rerecording of narrations, lip-synching
•           Indexing and sorting of data