Software localisation is the adaptation of a piece of software's interface texts, help content and user-facing messages to another language and locale. mots Tercüme provides this service to software companies and in-house software teams.
Scope of the service
Interface strings, error and warning messages, help pages and release notes are within this service. Which files and which strings are in scope is listed at the start of the job.
Variables and placeholders
The variables and placeholders in strings are necessary for the software to work. In translation they are not altered or deleted, and they are moved to the correct position according to the sentence structure.
File formats
Software strings usually arrive in structured file formats. The translation is delivered in the same format and with the same key structure; keys are not translated.
Length limit
The width of button, tab and menu areas in the interface is limited. Strings with a known length limit are flagged during translation and, where shortening is needed, it is done with the meaning preserved.
Locale
Date, time, number separator and currency format change with the target locale. These formats are mostly generated by the software itself; the translation adapts only those written out in the text.
Plural and gender forms
Some languages require different forms depending on number or gender. Whether the software supports these forms is established at the start of the job; if it does not, neutral wording is chosen.
Context
A one-word string whose context is unknown can be mistranslated. A screenshot, a string description or access to a test environment reduces this risk.
Release workflow
Software changes continuously. In each new release only new and changed strings are translated; the translation memory preserves the translation of earlier releases.
Linguistic testing
Checking the translated interface in the running software brings out truncated texts and misplaced variables. This test, if requested, is added as a separate step.
What is needed as input
The string files, string descriptions and screenshots where available, the target locale and previous translations are sufficient. Access to a test environment raises quality noticeably.
Delivery format
The translation is delivered in the file format received, with the key structure and encoding preserved. Before delivery, an automated check confirms that the variable counts match the source.
What is not included
Extracting hard-coded text from the source code, setting up the software's locale support and functional testing are not part of this service. These are the software team's job.
Related project type
Translation of software documentation and how to commission the job are covered on the software interface and documentation translation page. The term itself is on the localisation page.
Takeaway
In software localisation, not breaking the software matters as much as the translation. Preserving variables and observing the length limit come before a fluent translation.