Translators in the mobile world ATA57 · Challenges in mobile app translation 5. Handling files:...
Transcript of Translators in the mobile world ATA57 · Challenges in mobile app translation 5. Handling files:...
Translators in the mobile world
ATA57
Dorota Pawlak
About me
• EN/DE into PL translator & localizer
• Specialized in IT, localization, photography
• Owner of DP Translation Services and Polish Localization
• Blog Beyond the Words
• Teaching online courses on website/app localization
• MA in Translation, MSc in Multilingual Computing and Localization
About the session
1. The omnipresent mobile world
2. Why is mobile app translation different
from document translation
3. Challenges in mobile app translation
4. How to be a great mobile app translator
App translation is fun!
There’s an app for everything…
Differences between document translation and app translation
1. Medium
Differences between document translation and app translation
2. Amount of available space
Differences between document translation and app translation
3. Reading mode
Differences between document translation and app translation
4. Structure
Differences between document translation and app translation
5. Non-translatable strings
Challenges in mobile app translation
1. Character restrictions:
small screen size
limited space
creative solutions for buttons or menu items
Challenges in mobile app translation
Settings screen in Android OS
Challenges in mobile app translation
On/Off buttons in Android OS
Challenges in mobile app translation
On/Off buttons in Android OS
Challenges in mobile app translation
Next buttons in Android OS 4.2.1
Challenges in mobile app translation
Next buttons in Android OS 4.4.4
Challenges in mobile app translation
2. Button names:
many shapes, colors or animations
check how it works
Challenges in mobile app translation
3. Pictures and images:
Suitable for the target audience?
Clear connotations?
Contain embedded text?
Challenges in mobile app translation
4. Variables:
Do you want to delete %s?
Removing %d song%sThere are %d songs in this category
Do you want to delete SongName?
Removing 3 songsThere are 6 songs in this category
Use colons or rephrase the string in highly inflected languages!
There are %d songs in this category Number of songs in this category: %d
Challenges in mobile app translation
4. Variables:
Wrong number + adjective/noun combination in the Polish version of Twitter
Challenges in mobile app translation
5. Handling files:
Technical skills may be needed
if you work directly with the app developers.
Translatable strings usually extracted to XML or XLIFF file.
Challenges in mobile app translation
4. Handling files:
Sample XML file:
How to be a great app translator
How to find your way out of this maze
• You don’t need higher maths to find your way out
• Simply move forward in one direction
• Go back if you hit the dead end
• Follow simple rules to end up with an app
adjusted to the expectations of your target users
Thank you for your attention!
Any questions?
Let’s stay in touch!
@DkPawlak linkedin.com/in/dorotapawlak
dorotapawlak.eu/blogpl_localisation
You can find this presentation at: www.PolishLocalisation.com/ATA_presentation.pdf