Hello all, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all this great information! I feel like I have a lot more direction, and I've started to identify the key issues for localization. I know it's been a while, but I finally had the opportunity to sit down and sift through these details. Rhonda, great blog post. Sharon, your response and links were very helpful. Damien, I nabbed a copy of the International English Language Guidelines, which has been helpful. Good tips on colloquialisms David. Thanks everyone!
Much obliged, Andrew Wurzer On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 7:08 AM, David Farbey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > I want to echo what Sharon has said. The problem is not spelling or > grammar or rhetoric, it's idiom and vocabulary. I believe UK audiences > won't be bothered by US spelling, or by an "informal" tone. They will > be bothered by idioms such as "eighth-grader", "sophomore", "attending > physician", or "soccer mom" - phrases that a US-based author might not > even recognise as idiomatic. > > You need to ensure that local subject matter experts read your > material to identify the unfamiliar idioms or US-specific technical > terms and replace them with idioms and terms that are familiar to the > audience. And don't forget to be very careful with units of > measurement as well. > > David (a UK author, based in the UK ) > > > 2008/10/19 Sharon Gilmour <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > Hi Andrew, > > I'm a Brit who has worked in the US for over 20 years, doing localization > as > > well as tech writing for the last 6 or so. I also worked in international > > education programs before I changed career and joined the Tech Com ranks > > back in the early 90s. > > The answer to your question depends, as always, on your audience - and, > to > > an extent, on your budget. You don't say what you are localizing, > software? > > hardware? consumer goods? It can make a huge difference. I work in > software > > and the company that I work for has made an informed decision not to > > localize for the UK. We don't worry about spelling differences or the > use > > of the serial comma etc. In most cases people know they are buying a US > > product and make allowances accordingly. That being said, we do follow > > certain conventions that lead to neutral US English that is easily > > understood in both countries and easily translated into other languages > as > > well. > <snip> > > -- > David Farbey - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Technical Communication > and Information Design > Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange > Mobile 07879 005 946 > Business 0844 561 0742 > Web site > <http://www.farbey.co.uk> > Blog <http://www.theblockheadblog.blogspot.com> > LinkedIn profile <http://www.linkedin.com/in/informationdesign> > > ______________________________________________ > ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing > solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML > and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free > Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ > > > Interactive 3D Documentation > Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com > _______________________________________________ > > Technical Communication Professionals > > Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: > http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com > Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com > ______________________________________________ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
