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Website and Software Globalization: Some basic definitions and concepts

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

By Martin Spethman, Managing Partner USA for Globalization Partners International (GPI).

Many people are unsure of exactly what the term “globalization” means in the context of website creation and software development for global markets. A company that wants to conduct business on a global basis will need to develop and execute a globalization plan. This plan needs to address a multitude of strategic and tactical initiatives to include: target markets’ analysis, business case development, country specific product marketing programs, product and collateral localization and the establishment of multilingual support capabilities, just to name a few. When discussing software or website globalization, the term “Globalization" specifically refers to the mechanics of creating software or a website that functions correctly for a global audience.

When do you need Website or Software Globalization Services? You need globalization services if:

  1. You want to develop an application that works in different languages (Spanish, Chinese, German, etc...) so your software can be marketed and sold in different countries
  2. You want to launch a website in Spanish to more effectively market to and interface with the US Hispanic markets
  3. You need to translate user manuals and collateral materials in different languages in order to sell and support your products on a global basis

All of these examples require some degree of globalization. In general, globalization consists of two components:

Globalization(G11N) = Internationalization (I18N) + Localization (L10N)

Internationalization (I18N)

Abbreviated I18N, Internationalization is defined as the process of developing an application core whose feature design and functional code (source) do not make assumptions based on a single language or locale and whose source base simplifies the creation of different language editions of a program. (source: Developing International Software (Microsoft Press), by Nadine Kano)

The main goal of the internationalization (I18N) process is to separate all texts that will appear to the user, as well as the locale-specific features (i.e. date and time formats, currency, decimal separators, etc.), from the main product features. This process should take place during the development cycle for any given application (traditional or webdriven), because at this stage in the development life-cycle, changes to features and design can be implemented in a more cost-effective manner. Internationalization should be performed upfront in order to minimize development costs.

In order to organize and scope your internationalization efforts, either for in-house execution or for contracting to a globalization services provider, you will need to put together either a “Website Internationalization Kit” or “Software Internationalization Kit,” depending on your product and your business needs.

A Website Internationalization Kit should consist of:

  1. Your site(s) URL
  2. Any passwords or login instructions
  3. Summary of site architecture
  4. Summary of any technologies and/or development tools used to develop your site
  5. Contact information for your development team and marketing team who will participate in the globalization process
  6. Any source code for your site or web-driven application
  7. As each project is different, there may be other components and information required

A Software Internationalization Kit should consist of:

  1. Summary of application architecture
  2. Summary of any technologies and/or development tools used to develop your application
  3. Contact information for your development team and marketing team who will participate in the globalization process
  4. Any source code for your application
  5. As each project is different, there may be other components and information required

Globalization Service Providers each have their own methodology for providing internationalization (I18N) services. The basic phases should include:

  1. Discovery
  2. Assessment
  3. Implementation
  4. Testing

Localization (L10N)

Abbreviated L10N, Localization is defined as the process of adapting a program for a specific international market, which includes translating the user interface, resizing dialog boxes, customizing features and testing results to ensure that the program still works (source: Developing International Software (Microsoft Press), by Nadine Kano). The main goal of the Localization (L10N) process is to translate the strings of text that will appear to the user (user interface, help, and documentation), ensuring that the resulting program is linguistically, culturally, cosmetically and functionally correct. As with an Internationalization effort, in order to organize and scope your Localization efforts, either for in-house completion or for contracting to a globalization services provider, you will need to put together either a “Web Site Localization Kit” or “Software Localization Kit”, depending on your product and your business needs.

A Website Localization Kit should consist of:

  1. Your site(s) URL
  2. Any passwords or login instructions
  3. Summary of site architecture
  4. Summary of any technologies and/or development tools used to develop your site
  5. All files that make up your site in their original folder/file structure
  6. All original graphics used in your site (artwork, background, navigation buttons)
  7. All application source files (Word, FrameMaker, Quark, etc.) for any documentation available via your site
  8. All application source files (Flash, Director, Authorware, etc.) for any multimedia available via your site
  9. A list (if available) of all files that need to be translated
  10. As each project is different, there may be other components and information required

A Software Localization Kit should consist of:

  1. All files in your development environment, specifically Resource files (e.g. RC, RC2, DLG, H, HH, CPP, EXE, DLL, and graphic file formats)
  2. All Documentation source files (e.g. FrameMaker, Word, etc.). Includes all templates, books, fonts, original graphics (i.e., Photoshop, Illustrator)
  3. All HELP source files (e.g. graphics, RTF, VBS, HTML, CNT/HHX/HHC). Include all templates, fonts, books, and original graphics
  4. Reference material (glossaries, past translations, style guide, etc.)
  5. File names and types, including an explanation of each file's purpose
  6. The name and version of the development, documentation and Help authoring tool(s)
  7. The location (directories/files) of any hard coded literals which are in the user interface
  8. Original files of any third-party applications/components used
  9. Detailed build instructions (if applicable)
  10. Test plan and test scripts (if applicable)
  11. As each project is different, there may be other components and information required

Again, Globalization Service Providers each have their own methodology for providing localization (L10N) services, but the following steps are basic to any software/website localization project.

  1. Localization Kit Review, Analysis and Preparation
  2. Project Management Organization
  3. Subject Matter Training and Research
  4. Glossary and Terminology Development
  5. Cultural Correctness Assessment
  6. Translation, Editing & Proofreading of User Interface, Help and Documentation
  7. Localization of all graphics
  8. Required dialog re-sizing
  9. Completion of Screen captures
  10. DTP of all documentation
  11. Build
  12. QA/Testing according to client’s requirements
  13. Client Review and Approval
  14. Final QA
  15. Project Delivery

I hope this article has provided you with a clearer understanding of what Globalization, Internationalization and Localization all mean in regards to the development of global software and websites. In my next few articles, I will cover in more detail the steps in typical software and websites globalization efforts, and some tips to ensure your efforts are successful.

Martin Spethman can be reached at mspethman@globalizationpartners.com
GPI (www.globalizationpartners.com) provides document, software and website globalization services in over 50 languages.

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