The multi-lingualism of company websites is an international standard in today’s internet age. Website translations are easily carried out like the translation of text files, and can also be offered at the same price as text documents. An additional service fee for the localization process required after translation must be taken into account.
Websites are usually made up of a number of different file formats containing text and other content. According to the file format it may take some time to prepare and post-process the translations.
Together with our cooperation partners, we will adapt your website to the linguistic and cultural preferences of the target market. On request, we can carry out all linguistic and national localization, so that your website can be successfully placed in international markets. We ensure that the information and codes (fonts, date, time, currency and number formats, contact information, colours, text alignment etc.) correspond to the respective expectations of your target group.
Complex websites are often based on a Content Management System (CMS) such as TYPO 3, etc. To ensure a higher quality standard in the translation process, we recommend exporting the translation content into XML format, so that the translation doesn’t have to be completed in an online environment (back end), which is not designed for translation. Websites consist of HTML files which also contain programming language codes like PHP, Perl, Python, JSP etc. To decrypt these is often time-consuming and requires the work of an expert. If desired, our cooperation network can take on this task.
To give you an overview of website translation, we would like to present you with the following three basic options:
XML file Translation
The translation content is exported directly from the CMS system into an XML file format and is immediately processed by our translators. After the translation process you’ll receive an XML file which can be imported back into your CMS system.
Advantages: You can expect the lowest costs for translation and maintenance of the CMS, as long as the export and import are unproblematic.
Furthermore, the techniques from Translation Memory systems and terminology databases are used for quality assurance.
Disadvantages: None.
Word file Translation
The translation content is copied (using copy and paste methods) from CMS into a Word file and copied back again after the translation process.
Advantages: The costs are low as the techniques of Translation Memory systems and terminology databases fully contribute to cost reduction and quality assurance.
Disadvantages: Copying and pasting the content is time-consuming and involves a lot of potential error sources.
Translation in the CMS system browser
The translator translates in the respective CMS system.
Advantages: The content remains in CMS resulting in no cost for copying or exporting processes.
Disadvantages: The techniques from Translation Memory systems and terminology databases cannot be used. Therefore, the cost is much higher because the system does not automatically suggest repetition translations to the translator and they will need to manually search for older similar translations or terminology. The same translation of similar text passages or phrases is not supported by the software. In addition, the translator must learn the ropes for a new working environment which is often not equipped for the needs of efficient website translations. These three aspects considerably increase the costs and significantly complicate an efficient quality assurance.
Localisation of Websites
After all content has been translated, the website needs to be localised. On request, we will carry out the necessary work in collaboration with our cooperation partners who are specialised in this area. We will analyse your website with regard to the suitability of the structure, graphics, content and messages in the respective cultural context of the target language. Outside the European culture, it is possible for some images or messages have an alternative meaning than what is intended by the owner of the website. This effect can be extremely undesirable.
After consulting you, we will make meaningful or necessary changes to your website to increase the responsiveness and usability of the website in the cultural context of the target language. In particular, this includes the following steps:
- Adapting FAQ’s and help files
- Adapting fonts, date, time, currency and number formats, contact information, colours, text alignments etc.)
- Special characters and font in the target language must be displayed
- Checking the layout and fonts in common Browsers
- Text within buttons and graphics must be edited and created
- Images, Flash and Java scripts which contain text must be extracted into a Word file and then translated
As you can see, Cruz Communications offers integrated solutions for your international web presence. Open up new sales markets and stand out from growing international competition. Become a global player with Cruz Communications!