Content Internationalization

Definition

Content Internationalization

the content management task during which content is made usable in multiple countries

Classification

As illustrated in the preceding figure, Content Internationalization is part of the following inheritance hierarchy:

• Type: Concrete
• Superclass: Task
• Subclasses:
  • None

Responsibilities

The typical responsibilities of Content Internationalization are to:

• Translate content into appropriate appropriate languages and dialects:
  • Local content into foreign languages.
  • Foreign content into local language(s).
• Ensure that the translated content is correctly, fluently, and ideomatically translated:
  • Ensure that the translated content is uses the correct terms for the regions in which it will be used.
  • Ensure that the translated content is grammatically correct and readable
  • Ensure that the translated content does not violate cultural norms.
  • Ensure that the translated content continues to support the digital brand.
• Ensure that the content is modified for consistency with the intended:
  • Country (e.g., language and dialect, currency, time, date, tax laws, and import/export duties).
  • Culture (e.g., removal of offensive or inappropriate words, images, or colors).

Preconditions

Content internationalization typically can begin when the following preconditions hold:

• The construction phase has started.
• The internationalization requirements in the system requirements specification are largely complete and are relatively stable.
• The content management team is adequately staffed and trained in content internationalization.
• Some content to be internationalized has been created, migrated, or acquired.

Completion Criteria

Content internationalization is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• The retirement phase has started.
• All content has been internationalized:
  • It has been fluently and ideomatically translated into the appropriate languages and dialects.
  • It has been modified for consistency with its intended country and culture.
  • Its content metadata has been updated.
  • It has been approved and published.

Steps

Content internationalization involves the following teams performing the following steps in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and time-boxed manner:

• Content Management Team:
  • Determine the need for internationalized content by reading and understanding the associated internationalization requirements in the quality requirements section of the system requirements specification.
  • Determine the kinds of changes to make based on the associated countries and cultures:
    • Nationality (e.g., language and dialect, currency, time, date, tax laws, and import/export duties).
    • Culture (e.g., removal of offensive or inappropriate words, images, or colors).
  • Obtain the content to be internationalized.
  • Identify any special (e.g., technical) terms that may be difficult to translate.
  • Translate the content:
    • Textual content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages).
    • Numerical content (e.g., number names such as Billion, use of commas and periods, and currency icons).
    • Audio content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages and dialects).
    • Graphical content (e.g., avoiding culturally offensive or inappropriate images and colors).
    • Video content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages).
• Make changes based on the associated countries and cultures:
  • Nationality (e.g., currency, time, date, tax laws, and import/export duties).
  • Culture (e.g., removal of offensive or inappropriate words, images, or colors).
• Update the associated metadata.
• Ensure that the internationalized content is correctly and fluently translated by having it inspected by a native speaker of the language and dialect.
• Iterate as necessary

Techniques

Content internationalization can typically be performed using the following techniques:

• Translation
• Inspection
• Iteration

Work Products

Content internationalization typically results in the production of the following work products:

• Data Components:
  • Potential internationalized Content:
    • Textual content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages).
    • Numerical content (e.g., number names such as Billion, use of commas and periods, and currency icons).
    • Audio content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages and dialects).
    • Graphical content (e.g., avoiding culturally offensive or inappropriate images and colors).
    • Video content (e.g., translated into appropriate languages).
  • Content Metadata that includes language, nationality, currency, date, and time information.

Guidelines

• Content internationalization should be performed iteratively, incrementally, and in parallel with other content management tasks.
• There are numerous examples of content being literally translated from one language to another, and the resulting brand name or description is either obscene, revolting, or totally inappropriate. Be sure to translate ideomatically in a culturally appropriate manner.
• There is far more to meeting internationalization requirements then creating international content. Numerous software components must also be modified to support internationalization.