FAQ
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Q: What is the difference between localization and translation?
A: Translation deals with the language only, while localization
deals with the final user experience.
Other countries have different conventions and habits. Numbers decimals
are written with a "," in Europe, instead of a "."
as in the US. Accounting standards are different (US GAP against
European accounting frame). Character sets are different. Hyphentation
rules are different. And users feel insulted if you don't provide
them exactly what they are used to.
Q: How long does a localization projects take?
A: Between few weeks and several month, depending on factors such
as the number of words, the quality of your current software architecture
and several more.
Q: How much will it cost to localize my system?
A: Asume some $0.20/ for every english word in your GUI plus $0.15
for every word in your user manuals and help files. Plus the cost
for changing the architecture. The prices vary considerably with
quality. Good translators are expert in the subject area and know
the local slang and expressions. Japanese and Germans clients are
known to be particularly picky with that.
Q: What happens when we release a new version?
A: Some providers with with translation memories that store all
translated sentences. These translations can be retrieved using
fuzzy maching algorithms, so that only the text changes have to
be tanslated again
More questions? Check the glossary
or contact me and ask. This
is the only way to improve these FAQ.
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