The Software Localization Process

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Introduction

Living in the age of technology it has become much easier for businesses to expand at a global level. Businesses having websites and applications are becoming more and more common. As you can imagine when it comes to different countries and cultures, people tend to like and dislike different things. When it comes to languages, even same speaking countries tend to differ in dialect and have tendencies. The process of Software localization is to adapt the software to the cultural, linguistic and technical requirements of a target market. Localizing of a product can prove to be very labour and time-intensive. As a result the cost can be anything from $50,000 to $500,000 per language.

Localization normally begins in the development stages of software. The localization normally should finish when the product is released. The end product can result in changes to language, currencies and the technical workings of the software. The purpose being so the new market can just as easily use the software as the original market.

Localization phases

When it comes to the localization process there are three phases involved, these consist of:

1. Pre-Localization Phase

2. Localization Phase

3. After-Localization Phase

Pre Localization Phase

In the Pre-localization phase the aims and goals are set out. The localization process can become very complicated and tedious. Determining the exact requirements is very important as it gives a clear understanding as to what the product needs to do.

Once this becomes clear its best to take a look at the software architecture. Programs tend to use directories to read in strings and resources. Creating a directory for a different country can mean just a simple change of the named ...

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Layout

In English based countries language and interaction is from left to right. In Other countries the format can be right to left or top to bottom.

Vendors

Sources of information about localization and outsourcing vendors include:

• www.lisa.org

• Mutilingual.com

• localization-institute.org

Works Cited

http://www.sdl.com/technology/language-technology/what-is-software-localization.html

http://www.project-open.com/whitepapers/localization/l10n_biz_view.html

http://translation-blog.multilizer.com/real-life-example-of-software-localization-process/

http://translation-blog.multilizer.com/top-reasons-for-translation-crowdsourcing/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdsourcing_software_development

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-things-to-consider-when-you-outsource-it/3538/#.

http://is2.lse.ac.uk/asp/aspecis/20010021.pdf

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