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GlobalVision International, Inc.
10 Tips on reducing localization
update costs
To
the untrained eye, localization is often viewed as a one-time
expenditure. In fact, it is a long-term commitment to processes,
resources, and budgets. Since the initial localization endeavor is often
the costliest one, we addressed reducing its costs in a previous
article,
Tech Pub Writers Contribute to Reduce Localization Costs.
But
localization updates can be in the neighborhood of 40% of the initial
costs, which is also significant considering their recurring nature.
Here are ten tips for reducing your localization update budget, year
after year.
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Use the
correct localization process to allow easy leverage and reuse of the
previously translated and localized files.
For instance, if you are localizing a software application, the ability to
localize binary files or leverage dialog box coordinates may be essential to
you. When localizing manuals, the ability to support native file formats is
also critical. When localizing websites, the ability to handle databases and
dynamic htm is essential. Adopt the best localization process from the start, then
enhance it as time goes on.
Build a complete and accurate
translation memory (TM) for each language pair, starting from the very
first localization task. Your localization assets need to be reusable. Looking for previously
translated files, paragraphs, or strings outside of a robust search
engine/database environment (provided with a translation memory tool) is
error-prone and costly.
It is never too late to build the translation database, even if translation
memory tools were not used in the initial localization. Do it as soon as you
can.
Spend the needed time to update your translation databases
consistently and accurately with each product update. When changes to the
target files take place after the translation database is created, make sure
they find their way back to the corresponding translation memories. Doing this
will accurately maintain them for the next release, eliminating the need to
re-apply the same changes after the next leverage from the TM.
Implement a comprehensive translation memory strategy that is consistently
adopted by all involved in your localization tasks, up front and for all
languages.
It may take some work to establish the strategy, and more work to maintain and
audit it for consistency. But the effort will pay off in the efficiency
gained: You’ll be able to confidently reuse the translation data with each
product update.
Delegate the management of your translation memories to one vendor or expert
to help maintain efficiency and accuracy.
That vendor or person will establish an audit mechanism to check the work of
all translators, editors, proofreaders, and localizers, and ensure that the
proper process is followed.
Archive and save the intermediate bilingual files to reuse in the future.
With these files, you can then use Context TM (XTranslate) to reduce future
review costs.
Leveraging translations one sentence at a time requires translators'
intervention and manual checking. With the ability to automatically leverage
translations one paragraph at a time, you’ll reduce costs during an update.
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When performing updates on your source files, keep changes down to essentials.
For instance, minimize stylistic enhancements and unnecessary edits, as they
reduce the frequency of leveraging previous translations. Also, keep
terminology changes in check.
Changes
in terminology will require a full review of everything associated with the
product – the software, help, documentation, marketing collateral, website, and
so on – in order to maintain consistency throughout.
So, be
cautious of overzealous writers and reviewers. When you change the author or
editor of your documents, make sure that they are aware of all localization cost
ramifications of changes to the source text.
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Retain the file structure and file naming between releases to enable the use of
Context TM (XTranslate) and diff3 tools. By comparing old source to new,
these tools can help identify where minor or no changes exist, and apply any
changes directly to the previously translated files. You can then use a hybrid
top-down/bottom-up localization process to reduce costs. (Refer to the article
Localization Processes, for more on the hybrid top-down/bottom up
approach.)
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Identify all files that remain intact from the previous release.
These can be reused as-is, eliminating the leveraging, updating, desktop
publishing, and QA work associated with each release. When you can reuse
previously localized
images, files, or documents, you reduce the overall update costs.
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Keep source file formats unchanged for as long as feasible.
For instance, if you currently use FrameMaker as your desktop publishing tool,
do not switch to another unless the localization cost ramifications are
financially justified.
Changing help systems can also increase your updating costs. As you move from WinHelp to
HTML help to XML help, markup or formatting tags in your help files will change.
This creates fuzzy matches between the new source and the old, even if the text
to translate has not changed.
Translation memories maintain the internal tags specific to that tool. Switching
to another will induce a fuzzy match due to the change in the internal tags
format. A translator must check and correct these changes, adding to the costs.
So, if you need to change your source files' formats, do it during major updates
to the product and only when needed.
Note that these tips are recommendations you can use to help reduce your localization
costs during updates. They should not be used as shackles to inhibit your
writers and editors from giving your clients and end-users the documentation and
support they need to use your products correctly and efficiently. Client focus
should remain at the forefront of your activities, even as you keep an open eye
on the potential impact on localization costs.
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