Internationalisation
Internationalisation, or internationalization, is often abbreviated to i18n. The 18 indicates the number of letters between the i and the n. But what is internationalisation?
LISA, the Localisation Industry Standards Association, defines it as follows:
Internationalization is the process of generalizing a product so that it can handle multiple languages and cultural conventions without the need for re-design. Internationalization takes place at the level of program design and document development.
Product internationalisation takes place during the product development cycle and in general is a precursor to the localisation of a product.
Important aspects of internationalisation:
- Separating text from the source code - prepare texts so that translatable text can be moved to a string-only resource file
- Ensuring character sets are displayed properly and local standards are adhered to and supported
- Understanding the scope: internationalisation is not limited to software but has to take help files, product documentation and other factors into account.
Key reasons for internationalisation of software and online information:
- Ensuring that a product is functional and accepted in international markets
- Ensuring that a product is localisable
These reasons serve both the product developer as well as the target users. The earlier internationalisation is built into the product cycle, the better your final product. Additionally, including internationalisation early in your product development cycle will save you money in the following localisation cycle of your product.
