Building a Localization Kit
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The document discusses the importance of providing localization vendors with a comprehensive localization kit. It recommends including files, resources, instructions, guidelines and other necessary materials to help vendors accurately localize products. It also suggests structuring the kit according to different user roles like project managers, localizers and engineers. Metrics and requirements specifications are also important parts of an effective localization kit.
Building a Localization Kit
- 1. Building a localization kit Fiorenza Mileto & Luigi Muzii
- 2. Do good (ideal) clients exist? Clients are what vendors make out of them (and vice versa) Speak and listen to each other Vendors are helpful and clients are interested in how vendors can help them
- 3. Ten characteristics of a good (ideal) client Communicates expectations clearly Allows a reasonable amount of time for the work Available for questions Pays a fair amount for work required Pays in a timely fashion Has high integrity Allows the freelancer to do their job Seeks an ongoing relationship Gives credit where credit is due Committed to quality
- 4. Knowledge The more LSP’s understand about the client’s requirements and expectations, the better able they are to meet them The final quality and the success of a localization project depends on the amount of knowledge that is transferred to the localization vendor
- 5. Do TEnT turn translators into managers? Translation tools are useless per se Knowledge is pivotal What to stash in a proposal How to manage a project and why How to exploit a translation memory How to develop and use a term base How to perform quality assurance, and for what purpose What and how to invoice for your work
- 6. Translating into success The success of a translation project depends on its preparation
- 7. Translation requirements specification Adequate and unambiguous description of the essential conditions of service Task load Desired results Characteristics of each deliverable
- 8. Metrics and scorecards Criteria Key performance indicators Weights The mean used to resolve any differences in assessment Measures The scale unit for scoring, e.g. low/medium/high, 0-5 Scoring Ranking with respect to benchmarks Comments
- 9. Metrics and scorecards Total actual score Total actual score Total actual score Total Actual score Weight Score Actual score Weight Score Actual score Weight Score Indicator Vendor n … Vendor 1
- 10. Criteria Specification adherence None to full, 0-5 Meaning correspondence Rewriting required None to full, 0-5 Naming conventions Terminology consistency Timing
- 11. Translation parameters Languages and regional variations of the source text Languages and regional variations of the target text Subject matter Type of source text Purpose of the source text Purpose of the target text Intended audience of the source text Intended audience of the target text Culture-binding Adherence to target-language conventions Spatial and temporal correspondence Terminology and terminology management Use of controlled language Style and editorial guides Rewriting Format Encoding Number of graphics Amount of text in graphics Translation technology Naming conventions Reference materials
- 12. Specified apart in contract Importance (priority for the customer, e.g. low, medium and high) Data control and confidentiality Volume Method of computing volume Deliverables and deadlines Communication methods and procedures Medium and method of delivery Customer review procedures Change management procedures Billing procedures Legal, ethical, and financial considerations General dispute-resolution procedures (e.g. storage, handling, and ownership of TM’s, delays, quality of deliverables, etc.)
- 13. Writing The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.
- 14. Definition A localization kit is a subset of tools, instructions, and resources necessary to produce a localized version of a software product
- 15. A once-only task The kit remains consistent regardless of manager, product, and vendor Most parts in common with other products Little reworks A project-specific section
- 16. Purpose of a localization kit Help vendors quote Help PM’s schedule processes Help localizers release accurate deliverables
- 17. Structure of a localization kit According to users Project managers Statistics Schedule Localizers Translatables Finalized text Instructions Engineers Configuration data Test scripts
- 18. Content of a localization kit What the localization vendor needs Files Translatables Resources Code Binaries and executables Instructions UI (and possibly error messages) flow chart Software and hardware specifications User documentation, on-line help, and project documentation Specialized tools
- 19. Statement of work (SOW) Project scope Product information Project data List of localization kit content Delivery requirements Delivery dates and methods Locations Performance standards Supplies and equipment Quality expectations Payment terms Purchase order Amounts for each job/task/deliverable Payment rate(s) Non-disclosure agreement Liability agreement Contact information
- 20. Statement of work (SOW) Counting tools, criteria, and methods Analysis log files Replicated and untranslated words Full and fuzzy matches Frequently occurring segments Mapping for component leverage
- 21. Bill of materials (BOM) List of the files to localize grouped by type Image of the directory structure Directory structure requirements for deliverables List of expected deliverables List of drivers for creating deliverables List of build environments and source files List of documentation files
- 22. Bill of materials (BOM) Line 37: the variable strRedirect should not exceed 75 characters Line 271: do not localize the variable strLang root 30 Default page for browsing inception Server-side script (VBScript) default.asp Notes and instructions Location Word count Purpose File type File name
- 23. The localization guide Localization guidelines and schedule information Instructions on how to handle concatenated strings Special instructions for file handling Guidelines to dealing with text expansion Instructions for dialog resizing and other cosmetics Guidelines for keyboard accelerators localization Naming conventions Expected delivery file types
- 24. The localization guide Project organization Project issues Statement of scope Contents of the kit Resource requirements Tools, techniques and methodologies Deliverables Risks Communications Quality assurance plan
- 25. The status report Milestones scheduled for achievement Performance against milestones Changes in milestones Issues and recommendations Planned expenditure % Progress (Date) Achievement Description Actual expenditure Target Date Baseline date Milestone
- 26. Anyway …