You are online all over the world, right?
We live in a world of apps, websites, webshops, social media, search engines and various IT programs. This means that software translation is part and parcel of everyday life, too. If you’ve never thought about this, it means that the translations were done properly.
However when you become frustrated over a page of gibberish or have a bad user experience, what you are actually dealing with is poor translation of software, which often results in misunderstanding or scepticism. And this, in turn, can often lead to a lost sale, an irrecoverable interaction or a skipped download. Which are all bad for business. But this is easy to avoid if the texts are correct.
What is software translation?
Translation of software encompasses text types such as:
User interface content
App texts
Games
Help texts
Instructions
And more besides.
Strong partnerships
The art of (length) restriction
Did you know that there can be big differences in the number of words or keystrokes different languages use to say the same thing? For example, texts in French can be up to 40% longer than corresponding texts in English. And languages such as Finnish and German feature much longer individual words than other languages.
Texts for software often have to meet stringent requirements with regard to length restriction. This is why you need to work with professional translators who are skilled in their art, understand the technical challenges and ramifications and ask the right questions.
Case study: Translation of software for robots
Collaborative robots from MiR do not run completely autonomously. They are configured and operated in a browser-based user interface. MiR commissions us to translate the underlying software into four languages.
A word from your language expert
“Software translation typically takes a little longer than standard translation. The context is often hazier, and the customer’s software texts stem from a system that we generally cannot access, so we always do a lot of testing before we start translating.
I like the fact that software projects generally involve a closer working relationship with both the customer and the translator. Good dialogue helps us ensure that the technical process with the customer runs as smoothly as possible, and that the translator has what he/she needs to deliver the highest possible quality.”
Christian, Senior Project Manager