Internationalization and Localization - Scope

Scope

Focal points of internationalization and localization efforts include:

  • Language
    • Computer-encoded text
      • Alphabets/scripts; most recent systems use the Unicode standard to solve many of the character encoding problems.
      • Different systems of numerals
      • Writing direction left to right in most European languages (e.g. German), right-to-left in Hebrew and Arabic, vertical in some Asian languages
      • Complex text layout
      • Text processing differences, such as the concept of capitalization which exists in some scripts and not in others, different text sorting rules, etc.
      • Plural forms in text output, which differ depending upon language
    • Input
      • Enablement of keyboard shortcuts on any keyboard layout
    • Graphical representations of text (printed materials, online images containing text)
    • Spoken (Audio)
    • Subtitling of film and video
  • Culture
    • Images and colors: issues of comprehensibility and cultural appropriateness
    • Names and titles
    • Government assigned numbers (such as the Social Security number in the US, National Insurance number in the UK, Isikukood in Estonia, and Resident registration number in South Korea) and passports
    • Telephone numbers, addresses and international postal codes
    • Currency (symbols, positions of currency markers)
    • Weights and measures
    • Paper sizes
  • Writing conventions
    • Date/time format, including use of different calendars
    • Time zones (UTC in internationalized environments)
    • Formatting of numbers (decimal separator, digit grouping)
    • Differences in symbols (e.g. quoting text using double-quotes (" "), as in English, or guillemets (« »), as in French).
  • Any other aspect of the product or service that is subject to regulatory compliance
    • Disputed borders shown on maps (e.g. failing to show Kashmir as Indian is a crime in India)

The distinction between internationalization and localization is subtle but important. Internationalization is the adaptation of products for potential use virtually everywhere, while localization is the addition of special features for use in a specific locale. Internationalization is done once per product, while localization is done once for each combination of product and locale. The processes are complementary, and must be combined to lead to the objective of a system that works globally. Subjects unique to localization include the following:

  • Language translation
  • National varieties of languages (see language localization)
  • Special support for certain languages such as East Asian languages
  • Local customs
  • Local content
  • Symbols
  • Order of sorting (Collation)
  • Aesthetics
  • Cultural values and social context
  • Differing laws/regulations (e.g. taxation laws, labour laws, etc.)

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