How To Plan

Website
Globalization &
Localization
Introducti
on
Whether you are trying to launch a multilingual website to expand your products
and services into new global markets or increase your company’s global operational
efficiencies by developing multilingual extranets and intranets, website globalization is
a requirement to make either a reality. You must translate (globalize) your website to
empower your web pres ence to effectively communica te, conduct and complete
internationa l ecommerce.
internationalization and localization
services.

INTERNATIONALIZATION LOCALIZATION
Internationalizati
on
Interna tiona lization involves enabling the backend of a website to handle
different languages , chara cter encod ing, currencies , form data submis s ion, s
ite search
capabilities , etc. Internationa lization requires unders tanding which databas e and
content mana gement sy s tem (CMS) you are using to auth or, store and publis h y our
website’s content. Many recent vers ions of databas es and CMSs are already
internationalized or enabled for other languages . For ins ta nce, s uch sy s tems should
be double-by te enabled to handle Asian languages and script-ba s ed languages .
Localizati
on
Localiza tion is defined as the proces s of ada pting a website for a s pecific interna
tiona l market, which includ es trans lating the content, res izing dialog boxes, cus
tomizing features and testing res ults to ens ure that the website works in the target
language.
Localiza tion als o involves the proces s of ada pting an internationalized website
for a s pecific language or region by adding locale-s pecific components .
Translati
on
Tra ns lation is converting the meaning from one language to another and refers to written
text form. Translation is a part of localization process and includes adapting date and time
formats, changing currencies, cultural appropriation, changing UX and complying with local
laws and regulations.
Webs ite Loc
alizatio n
project analysis and estimating cannot begin until the customer assembles and submits a
complete set of website source files, also knows as a localization kit. This kit should
include:
• Your website(s) URL.
• Any passwords or login instructions.
• Summary of website architecture.
•Summary of any technologies and/or web development toolsets used to develop
your website.
 Webs ite Loc
* alizatio n
Contact information for your development team who will participate in the globalization process.
• Contact information for your marketing team who will participate in the globalization process.
• Any source code for your website or web-driven application.
• All files that make up your website in their original folder/file structure.
• Information regarding the CMS used to author, store and publish content.
• All original graphics used in your website (artwork, backgrounds, navigation buttons, etc.).
•All application source files (Word, FrameMaker, Quark, etc.) for any documentation
available via your website.

• All application source files (Flash, etc.) for any multimedia available via your
website.
•
A list (if available) of all files that need to be translated.
File Analys is for Webs
ite Loc alizatio n
The source files in your webs ite localiza tion kit will be analy zed by your tra ns lation
partner for:
 Number of word s
 Source and target languages
 Subject matter
 Gra phic localiza tion requirements
 Des ktop publis hing (DTP) requirements
 Webs ite development platform and proces s
 Interna tionaliza tion requirements
 Client review and approval requirements
 Client workflow requirements
What are website
localization tools?
 Ste ps to Webs ite
Globalization
Pre-Trans lation Source File R eview
1.
Source files are assembled in the website localization. Files are prepared in order to utilize a
translation memory (TM) workflow and also to preserve any mark-up or formatting codes in
online documents for download in order to save time and costs. A proposal is generated based
on project factors including word counts, localizable graphics, target languages and any CMSs
and workflows required.
2. Project Kick-Off
The kick-off includes and confirms the following: the project team, project schedules, project
specifications, workflow requirements, communication channels, review and approval
milestones, current web authoring and publishing workflows.
 Ste ps to Webs ite
Globalization
3. Subject Matter Training and R es earch

A Globalization Services Team (GST) will review and study reference materials provided, including source files,
demos and general client information. Additional client-specific training for translation teams related to the website
subject matter may be required.
4. Gloss ary Development
Translation teams develop and maintain client specific glossaries that leverage any existing client glossaries and the
latest industry-specific dictionaries.
5. Cultural Correctnes s Ass es s ment

Before the actual translation begins, the source web content and overall website design and feature set are reviewed
for basic cultural correctness and customizations that may be required. An array of issues are reviewed, ranging from
the need to culturally customize graphics and adding local phone numbers to comprehensive customization of website
features based on locale-specific cultural values.
 Ste ps to Webs ite
Globalization
6. Tra ns lation-Ed iting-Proofrea d ing (TEP)

Translation is performed by a primary translation/copy writing team and editing/proofreading

is done by a secondary linguistic team. All translations are completed by human translators,
utilizing translation memory technologies that ensure an efficient and consistent translation.

7. Webs ite Graphic and UI Localiza tion

All embedded, translatable text found in navigation buttons, web art and other web graphics
are extracted and translated, using the standard translation workflow. The translated text is
then incorporated back into the original graphics, adjusting for text expansion as required, to
create a language-specific, or localized, version of the graphic.
 Ste ps to Webs ite
[Link]
Document Forma tting and DTP
Many websites have an array of linked documents which may require localization. Formatting
(DTP) of these documents includes formatting the target language documentation to match the
original source documents in terms of layout, fonts, graphics and overall design. Adobe PDF files
can be created and optimized for screen or print and linked to the globalized websites.
9. Multimedia Localiza tion
Many websites incorporate various multimedia components that require localization. Multimedia
must be analyzed individually for numerous factors, which range from determining word counts in
screen text, audio scripts and video to the analysis of the types of assets and how they were
digitized and included in your multimedia. All multimedia can be localized and must be tested to
properly present audio and video in all target languages
 Ste ps to Webs ite
Globalization
10. Webs ite Quality Ass urance (QA) and Tes ting
GPI’s best practices include basic online website localization quality assurance (QA) as a standard
line item for all website projects. This QA checks the language versions of your site under selected
browser/OS combinations for any cosmetic or linguistic issues, and helps identity basic functionality
issues as well. Typically all testing is client-driven and the Globalization Services Team will work
side- by-side with your expert users to perform I18N, L10N and/or functionality testing, onsite or
offsite.
11. Client Delivery
After the website and all components have been localized, final draft sets of the source files in
all target language versions are provided to the client. Client may review and approve all web
content for both translation accuracy and design correctness. Another round of QA is performed
once language versions of a website are in their final hosting environment.
 Ste ps to Webs ite
Globalization
12. Final Edits and File Arch iving

The client provides any final comments for the translation and formatting. Comments are
incorporated and final websites and documents are produced. GPI ensures the client’s TMs
and glossaries are updated with any final linguistic changes. The final project folder, including
all source files, is securely stored for future revisions, if required.
Localization Kit Essentials for a
Website