6th Edition Guidebook
6th Edition Guidebook
6th Edition Guidebook
and Localization
Communicating with the Global Marketplace
Lingo Systems and MultiLingual Computing are pleased to present the sixth edition of our award-winning
book, The Guide to Translation and Localization. Over the last eight years we have distributed more than 20,000
copies worldwide. We are often told by readers that they consider it to be the definitive source for information
about translation and localization. While accolades are always flattering, our objectives in creating “The Guide”
remain unchanged: to present clear, effective solutions that reduce costs, save time, and educate the marketplace
®
about the localization process.
For those who are new to localization, we define key terms, explain various options for translating materials,
identify issues to consider when procuring localization services, describe the localization process itself, and
®
provide many tips to control costs and improve quality. Localization veterans will find discussions about
The Guide to Translation and Localization was published using the AuthorIT single-source
content management system. See www.author-it.com for more information.
As one of the largest language service providers in the world, Lingo Systems supports more than
100 languages and can easily handle any size or type of project. What truly differentiates us, however,
is our focus on customer satisfaction. Our unparalleled metrics tell the story:
BY
#OPYRIGHT ¥ BY ,INGO 3YSTEMS
#OPYRIGHT AND 2EPRINT 0ERMISSIONS !BSTRACTING IS PERMITTED WITH CREDIT TO THE SOURCE ,IBRARIES
ARE PERMITTED TO PHOTOCOPY ISOLATED PAGES BEYOND THE LIMITS OF 53 COPYRIGHT LAW FOR PRIVATE USE
OF THEIR PATRONS &OR OTHER COPYING REPRINT OR PUBLICATION PERMISSION WRITE TO ,INGO 3YSTEMS
37 3EQUOIA 0ARKWAY 3UITE 0ORTLAND /REGON
,IBRARY OF #ONGRESS .UMBER
)3".
!DDITIONAL #OPIES CAN BE ORDERED FROM
,INGO 3YSTEMS
37 3EQUOIA 0ARKWAY
3UITE
0ORTLAND /2
4EL
&!8
WWWLINGOSYSCOM
INFO LINGOSYSCOM
3IXTH EDITION PRINTED IN THE 5NITED 3TATES OF !MERICA
%DITORIAL "OARD
3COTT ,UDWIGSEN $AN *OHNSON #RAIG -EUSER $AN 2OTH #ÏDRIC 6EZINET
-ANAGING %DITOR
*EFF 7ILLIAMS
#OPY %DITOR
3HANE 0OLIZZANO
!RT $IRECTOR
2OGER 4HOMPSON
$ESIGN
0ETE ,ANDERS
#ONTRIBUTING 7RITERS
!NNA
&RIDA !BRAHAMSSON /USSAMA !BOU
*AMOUS $ONALD !RNEY -AJA "AILEY "ARBARA
"ONNEMA 4ING &AN %MILY 'ARTEN $AN *OHNSON 0ETE ,ANDERS 3COTT ,UDWIGSEN %RIC -ANNING
3TEVE -ARSHALL ,EONARD -ORALES ,INDA 0ARKER $ONNA 0ARRISH 3HANE 0OLIZZANO *ENNIFER 0OLIS
$AN 2OTH *OSEPH 3TARNES 2OGER 4HOMPSON 0AUL 4ROTTER -IKE VAN 'RUNSVEN #ÏDRIC 6EZINET
#HRISTOPHE 6EZINET +IM 6ILLEMYER ,AUREL 7AGERS $ANIELLE 7ALKER *EFF 7ILLIAMS !ND MANY
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF
4HE 'UIDE TO 4RANSLATION AND ,OCALIZATION
4RADEMARK )NFORMATION
7INDOWS 7INDOWS (ELP !CCESS AND 31, 3ERVER ARE TRADEMARKS OF -ICROSOFT #ORPORATION
42!$/3 4RANSLATORS 7ORKBENCH FOR 7INDOWS IS THE REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF 42!$/3 'MB(
1UARK AND 1UARK8PRESS ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF 1UARK )NC !DOBE !DOBE )LLUSTRATOR !DOBE
0HOTOSHOP !DOBE !CROBAT !DOBE &RAME-AKER !DOBE )N$ESIGN !DOBE 0AGE-AKER !DOBE 4YPE
-ANAGER &LASH AND 0OST3CRIPT ARE TRADEMARKS OF !DOBE 3YSTEMS )NC 0ALM/3 IS A REGISTERED
TRADEMARK OF 0ALM -AC /3 IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF !PPLE )NC #OREL$RAW IS A REGISTERED
TRADEMARK OF #OREL !UTHOR
)T #ATALYST /RACLE -ULTILIZER 7EBWORKS 2OBO(ELP $OCUMENTUM
AND )NTERWOVEN ARE TRADEMARKS OF THESE INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS
!LL OTHER BRAND OR PRODUCT NAMES TRADEMARKS SERVICE MARKS AND COPYRIGHTS ARE THE PROPERTY OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS
0UBLISHED BY
,INGO 3YSTEMS
37 3EQUOIA 0ARKWAY
3UITE
0ORTLAND /2
4EL
&!8
WWWLINGOSYSCOM
INFO LINGOSYSCOM
-ULTI,INGUAL #OMPUTING
.ORTH &IRST !VENUE
3ANDPOINT )$
4EL
&!8
WWWMULTILINGUALCOM
4ABLE OF #ONTENTS
&OREWORD
0RESIDENTS ,ETTER
,EARNING THE ,INGO
7HAT ARE -Y /PTIONS
0LANNING A 3UCCESSFUL ,OCALIZATION 0ROJECT
0ROCESS IS +EY TO 3UCCESS