Naming a language is not always enough to define the target text. The same language uses different words, different spelling rules and different number formats in different markets. When the variant is not stated, the translator applies their own habit and the text looks foreign in the target market.
Definition
A language variant is the form of the same language in a particular market. The difference may be at the level of words, spelling and format. The definition depends on the target market.
Differences in words
The same concept may be called by different words in different markets. The wrong choice makes the text look foreign. The terminology list is built according to the variant.
Differences in spelling
In some languages the spelling rules change with the market. Mixed spelling gives an impression of carelessness. The preference is fixed.
Date and number formats
The difference between variants shows not only in words but in formats too. The order of the date and the decimal separator may change. These fields are checked separately.
Units of measurement
In some markets different systems of units are used. No conversion is made, but the preferred notation may change. The decision is taken with the client.
Currency notation
The position of the symbol and the use of a space change with the variant. This detail affects how natural the text is. The rule is applied.
Preferences in formal language
In texts to be submitted to public bodies, the variant preference may be stricter. The expectation is found out in advance. It is applied accordingly.
Determining the target market
Which market the text will go to is asked at the start of the job. A market left vague gives rise to assumptions. The question is asked in concrete terms.
Texts for several markets
If a text is going to more than one market, a neutral preference can be set up. Neutrality is not always possible. The decision is weighed.
Preference for neutral usage
A neutral text can be built by choosing the expressions that the variants have in common. It does not look foreign in any market, but it is not fully local in any of them either. The balance is explained.
Memory and variant
Memory records are separated per variant. A mixed memory produces wrong suggestions. The separation is structural.
The variant in the terminology list
Term entries state which variant they belong to. The same term may take a different rendering in two variants. The field is filled in.
Matching the translator
A person who speaks the target variant is preferred. A variant mismatch can be felt in the text. The assignment is made with care.
Variant check in proofreading
Proofreading is done through the eyes of the target variant. This step catches variant slips. The check is planned.
In software and interfaces
In interface texts the variant codes are also defined technically. The codes are chosen correctly. A wrong code produces a wrong file.
Stating the variant in documents
Which variant was used can be stated in the delivery note. This reduces the feedback that comes later. Transparency is ensured.
Priority of the client's preference
If the client has a variant preference of its own, it is applied. General convention does not take precedence over it. The organisation defines its own language.
What it is confused with
A variant is frequently confused with a dialect. A dialect refers to the regional difference in the spoken language, whereas a variant refers to the form the written standard takes according to the market. In corporate texts the subject is the variant.