Nan YangChinese Terminologist
Microsoft Language ExcellenceShanghai, August 2008
LocalizationLocalization Term & Terminology ManagementTerm & Terminology Management Methods & ToolsMethods & Tools Best practicesBest practices Call to actionCall to action
“The translation and adaptation of a software product and related content to the requirements of a local market so that it meets user expectations”
Ideally, to make the product appears as if it was first developed in Chinese.
Consists of one or more words Represents a concept in a specialized
domain Examples:
◦ Favorite / Preview◦ Remote control /Slide show◦ Active Messaging Protection
The investigation, documentation, and consistent reuse of terms and their associated concepts
Quality, Productivity, Quality, Productivity, Customer Satisfaction…Customer Satisfaction…
Increasing number of localized products Increasing number of localized languages Increasing number of shared features Increasing number of products or features
need to be used together Increasing number of occurrences of a term Increasing number in product size ……
Microsoft
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company E
Company D
1) Each company creates its own terminology
2) There are few mechanisms for sharing terminology
3) Most companies create their own glossaries in different formats
4) Customers get confused to understand functions
5) Developers were puzzled to choose correct terms
Survey conducted by the Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) in 2003:Participants confirmed that actively managing terminology should be part of any global product development strategy88% of respondents who actively manage terminology reported an increase in product quality74% reported an increase in productivity62% saved cost56% felt it increased their company's competitive edge
Society for Technical Communication(STC)Society for Technical Communication(STC) survey (June 2008) survey (June 2008)
Localization Term & Terminology Management Methods & Tools Best practices Call to action
Terminology Studio (http://termstudio)◦ The database of concepts and terms that is
maintained by Language Excellence terminologists
Source versus target
Internal versus external
5 English terminology researchers 12 internal terminologists for 10 languages:
◦ Japanese, Korean, Chinese Simplified and Traditional (JKCC)
◦ French, Italian, German, Spanish (FIGS)◦ Russian, Portuguese (Brazil)
External terminologists(>90 languages)
terminology terminology databasedatabase
glossariesglossarieswithwithdefinitionsdefinitions
term term listslists
EnglishEnglish
target languagetarget language
approccio approccio reattivoreattivo
approcciapproccio o proattivproattivoo
70%70%15%15% 10%10% 5%5%
managed terminology volumesmanaged terminology volumes
reactive approachreactive approachproactive proactive approachapproach
Search and Search and translatetranslate
TQCTQC
TermsTerms not not
documenteddocumented““Release” Release”
terminologiesterminologies
Analyze andAnalyze and approveapprove
Collect and Collect and extract extract
terminologiesterminologies
CommunityCommunity
Sub teamSub team
docdoc
= Product team= Product team= Terminology = Terminology researchersresearchers
LocalizeLocalize
= Target terminologists= Target terminologists= Localization team= Localization team
TermStudioTermStudio
Internal tool used to identify and
extract new terms Limitations:
◦ mining usually happens at an early stage◦ lack of context in the results
Working together with source teams
TRESTRES
Term StudioTerm Studio TQCTQC
Product StringsProduct Strings
Search TerminologySearch Terminology
Search for Microsoft terminologies in 90+ languages
Download Microsoft localization style guide Comment or suggest on terminologies Participate in terminology forum Communicate with Microsoft terminologists
online Visit Microsoft terminology blog ……
Work with source team Proactive working approach Use consistent terminologies Community outreach Share your experiences
Establish Chinese localization committee Standardize terms Follow standard terms
DěkujiDěkuji
Vielen DankVielen Dank
Thank youThank you !!谢谢!谢谢!
ArigatoArigato
GrazieGrazie
MerciMerci
ObrigadoObrigado
GraciasGracias
BedanktBedankt
TackTack
TakTak TakkTakk
KiitosKiitos