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