Internationalizing Your Content

Internationalizing Your Content:

Authoring with Localization in Mind

Presented by:Lisa Pietrangeli – Director, Global Client Solutions

Internationalizing Your Content 2

Internationalizing Your Content: Authoring with Localization in Mind

Language Intelligence Ltd. ©2009

Who are the stakeholders?

• Product developer/manager• Software developers• Technical writers• Marketing• Sales Team• Distributors• Installers• Users / Consumers




What do they all need?

• Installer guides• User guides• Quick Ref. or Quick Start Guides• Datasheets• Training guides – Participant and

Instructor• E-Learning• Website• Software• Catalogs• Product brochures




What is Required for International Sales & Distribution?

• Content creation• Sharing information• LSP Partnership

(Language Service Provider) • Translation & Localization• In-country review and approval• Printing• Posting• Train sales force• Sim ship




Step One:

Start with the Words: Laying a Foundation




Step 1: Start with the words: Laying a Foundation

Simplicity

Consistency,

Clarity





Simplicity

Structure

Modifiers

Self-contained ideas





Consistency

Terminology

One term - One meaning





Clarity

Idioms and images

Word choice

Parts of speech

“It”





How do your choices affect localization

and translation?




Step Two:

Create a Knowledge Base: Collecting Materials and Information




Step 2 – Create a Knowledge Base: Collecting Materials and Information

• Collect information from SMEs and product developers

• Prepare for client-side linguistic review

• Create definitions for product terminology

• Create and maintain a Term Base

• Start to maintain a Translation Memory





Style Guide

Text styles

Software references, screen text and buttons

Notes, Warnings, Cautions

Procedures

Callouts





Everything that you need to know in order to write about a product, the translators also need to know in order to translate.




Step Three:

Identify Key Topics: “Chunking”




Step 3 –Identify Key Topics: “Chunking”

Topic-based Writing method: Writing self-contained, standalone information elements that do not depend on other topics as context.

Chunking: Breaking information down into small units that people can easily remember.

Content vs. Document





Significant benefits of Topic-based Writing during localization:Agile or modular translation possible

Take the headache out of updates

Maximize TM leveraging

Exact same information can be plugged into different outputs





Company LogoContact InformationProduct DescriptionProduct SpecificationsFeature 1 DescriptionFeature 1 set-up procedureFeature 1 test procedureFeature 1 cleaning and care ofSafety SummaryFeature 2 DescriptionFeature 2 set-up procedureFeature 2 common problemsFeature 2 test procedureSafety SummaryTraining Assessment

Product 1

Topi

cs




Going Green

Reus

e

Reuse

Reuse




Step Four:

Reuse and Repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content




Step 4 –Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content




Step 4 – Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content

Topic Mapping

Conduct a Top level analysis

Develop a Topic Map

Develop a Translation Map

Maintain Version control





Installation Guide User Guide Quick Start Guide Product Catalog Training Guide Website Content Data Sheet

Company Logo X X X X X X X

Contact Information X X X X X X X

Product Description X X X X X X X

Product Specifications X X X X X

Feature 1 Description X X X

Feature 1 set-up procedure X X X X X

Feature 1 test procedure X X X

Feature 1 cleaning and care of X X X

Safety Summary X X X X X

Feature 2 Description X X X X X X X

Feature 2 set-up procedure X X X

Feature 2 common problems X X X X

Feature 2 test procedure X X

Safety Summary X X X X X

Training Assessment X

Product 1 Documentation

Topi

cs

Your Topic Map





Deeper content analysis

User’s Guide Quick Ref Card Quick Start CardStep 1 Step 1 Step 1

*”Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy”

Insert the test strip. Make sure the contact bars go in end first and facing up. The meter will turn on automatically.

Insert the test strip. After inserted, meter turns on automatically.

Insert the test strip to turn on the meter.

Step 2 Step 2 Step 2…





Significant benefits during translation

Allows for agile or modular translation

TM Reuse Maximized

Quality: Terminology and Style




Step 4 –Reuse and repurpose: Sharing and Leveraging Content

Need a little motivation? Let’s talk numbers.Where there is content reuse, there is translation reuse!!




Food for thought…Handling Reviews and Approvals




Step Five:

Manage Content: Implementing XML




Step 5 – Manage Content: Implementing XML

Why XML?

Separates content from output

Store, Index and Manage content

CMS (Content Management System)

What DTP??




Step 5 – Manage Content: Implementing XML

Case Studies:1 Writing team recognizing reuse potential but no idea where to begin

2 Writing team migrating content to Structured FrameMaker

3 XML solution for one large project; many contributors




Case Study 1 - Challenge

Company wanted a new authoring platformCMS not an option Technology levels variedAggressive deadlines looming




Case Study 1 - Assessment

Content development optionsLocalization requirements play a significant roleIn-country review issues




Case Study 1 - Solution

Follow the stepsXML now, CMS laterHands-on trainingPlan for the future





Company-wide migration from Word to SFMProject deadline with a large documentation setWriters completely unfamiliar with XML





Authoring issuesSkipping stepsReview requirements





XML and DTP Single-sourcingA work in progress…





300 page Operator’s Manual in InDesign8 target languagesRegular updates





Lack of knowledge base and style guideFile preparation and DTPNo review process in placeXML?





What did XML buy them?DTPConsistencyUpdatesFuture potential




References• Microsoft Corporation Editorial Style Board, 2004. The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical

Publications – Third Edition. Washington: Microsoft Press.• Read more about topic-based authoring at DITA XML.org – the online resource for information

regarding the DITA OASIS Standard: DITA.XML.ORG

• Rockley, Ann. 2003. Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy. Callifornia: New Riders

About Language Intelligence:

Language Intelligence Ltd. provides professional language services to companies that are doing business globally. We work with a highly qualified network of translators around the world who are professional, subject matter experts. Our staff's extensive expertise in localization will help turn your company's innovative ideas into a global success. Our experienced project management and technical staff will create a customized process to meet your project requirements. LI's goal is to give your company the tools to succeed in international markets. Localizing your product or service for any locale can be a success when LI works directly with your development and marketing teams from the start. For more information, visit http://www.languageintelligence.com

Internationalizing Your Content

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