Software Localisation

As an interactive media, fanbases of localised games can have a substantial effect on the localisation choices made by each team of translators. Thanks to the advent of the Internet and social media, gamers have the ability to participate in online discussions about localisation, often directly with the translators involved in the translation itself, and therefore translators are always very aware of the needs of their intended audience, and make choices about the translation of cultural concepts with these specific fandom expectancy norms in mind. The main questions that this study aims to discuss include: are the target-audience expectancy norms for Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) influenced by fandom culture, and how does this affect the reception of their localisations? Using online discourse and focus groups, this case study explores this in reference to the localisation decisions made in Persona 5, a JRPG with a niche fandom and polarising localisation reception amongst critics and fans alike. Excerpts from the localisation were analysed both functionally and in reference to the perceived expectancy norms and real norms of the participants. The findings indicated that members of the fandom are more critical of Japanese-English translations because of their prior knowledge of the language and culture, though their perceived norms differed from their real expectations when exposed to actual excerpts from the translation.

Účelom tejto všeobecnej štylistickej príručky je pomôcť pri simulácii situácií z lokalizačnej praxe, pri ktorých je lokalizátor alebo prekladateľ viazaný klientovou štylistickou príručkou. Primárne je určená na praktické prekladateľské semináre z angličtiny zamerané na lokalizáciu softvérových produktov – herných, neherných aj webových lokalít, počas ktorých študenti musia pri vypracúvaní zadaní konzultovať rôzne kapitoly, aby zadania vypracovali správne. Ako didaktická pomôcka môže slúžiť aj na iných seminároch prekladu, keďže študenti v nej nájdu aj všeobecné informácie týkajúce sa prekladu z angličtiny do slovenčiny, ako napríklad informácie o rôznych typoch textov, pravopise alebo zoznam niektorých častých gramatických chýb. V neposlednom rade sa dá využiť aj v praxi, ak klient nemá vlastnú štylistickú príručku k dispozícii, môže sa prekladateľ či lokalizátor riadiť touto všeobecnou.

Bu çalışmada, işlevci çeviri kuramları arasında yer alan Mänttäri'nin " çeviriye ilişkin eylem kuramı " ve Vermeer'inSkopos kuramlarının günümüz koşullarında nasıl alımlanması gerektiği incelenmiştir. Her iki kuram da 20. yüzyılın ikinci yarısının sonlarına doğru geliştirilmiş ve çeviribilim camiası tarafından bugün bile geçerliliği savunulan kuramlar/paradigmalar arasında gösterilmektedir zira kendinden önceki diğer çeviri kuramlarının aksine, Skopos ve çeviriye ilişkin eylem kuramı erek odaklılığı vurgulamaktadır. Neticede, çeviri eylemi erek kültürün beklentilerine göre yapılmalıdır. Ne var ki, 1990'lardan sonra popülerleşen ağ teknolojisi ve yerelleştirme endüstrisi çevirinin uygulanma şeklini de değiştirmiştir. Buna paralel olarak, dijital çağın etkisini hızla arttırdığı düşünülürse, çalışmada tartışılan çeviri kuramlarının da yeni nesillere faydalı olmaya devam edebilmesi ve çeviribilimin olgun bir bilim dalı haline geldiğini kanıtlayabilmek için yeniden yorumlanması gerekmektedir. Bu nedenle, çalışma boyunca, bu iki kuramdan yola çıkılarak, günümüzde gelinen nokta değerlendirilmiş ve yeniden yorumlanması gerektiği düşünülen söz konusu kuramlar üzerinde yerelleştirme endüstrisinin etkisi tartışılmıştır. Anahtar sözcükler: işlevci kuramlar, Skopos kuramı, çeviriye ilişkin eylem kuramı, erek odaklılık, yerelleştirme endüstrisi, dijital çağ. Abstract This study examines how Mänttäri's " Translational Action Theory " and Vermeer's " Skopos Theory " which are among functional translation theories should be received today. Both of the theories were developed in the late twentieth century and they are regarded as being effectual by translation scholars even today because these theories, unlike the former ones, underscore target-orientedness. As a result, translation activity must be done in favour of the target audience. However, since 1990s, the network technology and localization industry have been popularized and have changed the way translation is done. Correspondingly, considering the increasing influence of the digital age, the translation theories discussed in this study must be re-interpreted in order for them to be useful to new generations and prove the fact that translation studies is now a maturated discipline. Therefore, these two theories are evaluated by focusing on their status today and the effects of the localization industry on these theories are questioned in the study.

(Doktora Tezi/Kitap) Holmes'un 1972 yılında sunduğu "Çeviribilimin Adı ve Doğası" adlı bildirinin ardından akademik bir disiplin haline gelen çeviribilim üzerine şimdiye kadar çevirinin süreç, işlev ve ürün boyutuna yönelik pek çok bilimsel araştırma yapılmış ve kuramlar geliştirilmiştir. Böylece çeviribilimin araştırma nesneleri ve alanları da genişlemiştir ve yeni gelişmelere paralel olarak gelişmeye de devam etmektedir. Bilim dallarının meşru kılınmaları ve gelişebilmesi için olgunlaşmaya eğilimli devingen bir yapısının olması gerekmektedir. Bu açıdan çeviribilimin bugün etkileşime geçebileceği devingen alanlardan biri de 1990'lı yıllarda önce yazılım dünyasında sonra da ağ teknolojinin yaygınlaşmasıyla ve bilgisayar teknolojilerinin muazzam boyutlara ulaşmasıyla web, video-oyun vb. alanlarda ortaya çıkan yerelleştirme endüstrisidir. Yerelleştirme endüstrisi, çeviri pratiğinin farklı olarak yapıldığı ve çeviri olgusuna yenilik katabilecek bir alan olarak düşünülmektedir. Ayrıca, bu endüstri çevirmenden çeviri yapmanın ötesinde farklı uğraş ve görevlerle de başa çıkmasını gerektirmektedir. Bu nedenle, çeviri dünyasına bir farklılık sunan yerelleştirmenin çeviribilim çatısı altında incelenip, kuramsallaştırılması gereken bir alan olduğu düşünülmektedir. Nitekim, bu alanla ilgili görüş bildiren ve kuramsallaştırma çalışmaları yapan çeviribilimciler mevcuttur. Bu kuramsallaştırma çabalarına bir katkı olarak bu kitap, yerelleştirmenin çeviribilim açısından bir paradigma adayı olup olmadığını tartışmaya açmıştır. Bu bağlamda Küreselleşme & Bilişim ve İletşim Teknolojilerinin yerelleştirme alanı üzerindeki etkisi, yerelleştirmede kullanılabilen çeviri araçlarının getirdiği yenilikler, yerelleştirmenin özellik ve sorunları üzerinde durulmuş, sorunlara karşı çözüm önerileri sunulmuş, yerelleştirme mevcut çeviri kuramlarıyla kıyaslanarak, kuramsal bir deneme yapılmış ve çeviri edinci kavramı yeniden açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu açıdan, çalışmanın gerek çeviribilim gerekse de endüstri açısından kuramsal çalışmalar ve uygulama sahasının bütünleştirilmesi ve böylece bir uzlaşı oluşturulabilmesi için katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir

This paper aims at touching upon effects of technological developments on the translation teaching in the 21st century. These technological developments are usually in the area of Information Technology (IT) contributing to the fast growth of the computer industry. The popularization of the computer, especially in the early 1980s changed actually the way translator follows in the translation process through the appearence of useful translator tools including translation memories, terminology databases, translation management programs, electronic corpora and so forth. These breakthroughs happening in the computer technologies also triggered a different perception of what we call functional translation theories defending that every translation is made for a purpose and suggesting a target oriented approach. In the past a translator had to translate using a typewriter or paper and pen. The development of the technology, however, encouraged the translation industry or more appropriately, now localization industry to adopt new tools in the translation process. While explaining all these points, the study follows a descriptive and comparative methodology.

As with every other discipline, Informatics and Communication Technologies have also begun to affect translation studies. In this context, this study covers a part of my doctoral thesis written on the topic and is based on the debate about whether existing translation theories need to be revised in accordance with current conditions. The study contends that, as with other translation theories developed for specialized translation areas, the 'localization industry' that initially became popular in the late 1980s and for which attempts have been made, by those conducting this study and some translation scholars, to include it under the umbrella of translation studies in the belief that it would be a gain for translation studies, requires a new translation theory. Accordingly, this study intends to build a bridge between translation studies and the theory of localization, which has emerged as an industrial discourse. A theoretical proposal called the 'integrated localization theory' of translation studies has also been proposed in the study. Furthermore, it is considered that this theoretical proposal will not discredit the existing translation theories that have emerged in different periods and show the characteristics of paradigms, but will instead combine and harmonize them. With this approach, localization may even be transformed into one of the new paradigms of translation studies.

This thesis is focused on the analysis and comparison of two popular FOSS localisation tools: Pootle, a web-based system, and Virtaal, a stand-alone tool. As FOSS programs are not always localised by professionals, the main purpose of our study was to determine which tool would be better for a novice translator who wants to start collaborating on a project. By following the EAGLES final report, we evaluated three main characteristics (functionality, efficiency, usability) together with their sub-characteristics (suitability, accuracy, time behaviour, understandability, learnability, operability, attractiveness) by the means of a feature inspection, a scenario test and a task-specific questionnaire. Since we would also like to have the point of view of active users of the two tools, we subsequently performed an online survey. Results showed that Virtaal and Pootle scores were similar in both our study and online survey. Consequently, we can argue that both tools are appropriate for beginners.

Öncelikli olarak beni böylesine bir etkinliğe davet ettiklerinden ve sizlere konuşma yapma fırsatı verdiklerinden dolayı başta Mütercim Tercümanlık Bölüm Başkanı Prof. Dr. Berrin AKSOY ve Bölüm Başk. Yardımcısı Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Özlem Şahin SOY'a teşekkürlerimi sunuyorum. Ben de sizler gibi Atılım Üniversitesi Mütercim Tercümanlık 2009 mezunuyum. Aradan geçen dokuz yılda gerek benim açımdan gerekse çeviri dünyası açısından pek çok şey değişti. Hepinizin bildiği gibi, Mütercim Tercümanlık veya Ççeviribilim bölümlerinin misyonları arasında üniversitenizin web sayfasında da belirtildiği gibi bilgili, araştırmaya ve öğrenmeye hevesli, çok kültürlü, güncel konular ve kültürel ilişkilerle yakından ilgili, piyasa beklentileri ve koşulları hakkında bilgi sahibi, yazılı ve sözlü çeviri konusundaki bilgisini bilimsel yöntemler ve en son teknolojiyle ortaya koyabilen profesyoneller yetiştirmek vb. bulunmaktadır. Böylesine geniş perspektifli bir alan olan mütercim tercümanlık veya çeviribilim bölümleri ilerlemeye açık ve devingen bir yapıya sahiptir. Zaten bilindiği gibi bilim dallarının bilimsel niteliklerini koruyup inter-disipliner ve hatta trans-disipliner bir bilim dalı statüsüne kavuşması sürekli evrilmesi ve farklı bilim dallarıyla ilişki kurmaya başlamasıyla mümkündür. Bu özelliğini yitiren bilim dalları ancak zamanla sadece bir bilgi dalı halini almaktadır. Diğer bilim dallarıyla kurduğu ilişkiler bakımından inter ve trans-disipliner bir bilim dalı niteliği taşıyan çeviribilimin günümüzde ulaştığı nokta onun devingen ve ilerlemeci yapısının gösterilmesi açısından önem arz etmektedir. 1950'lerde çeviri etkinliği salt dilsel bir aktarım olarak görülmekteyken yaşanan toplumsal, sosyal ve kültürel dönüşümle aynı zamanda bir kültür aktarımı olarak da ele alınmaya başlamıştır. Çevirinin salt dilsel aktarım olmadığı ve kültür aktarımı olduğunu savunan ve bir döneme damgasını vurmuş, vurmaya da devam eden pek çok çeviri kuramı geliştirilmiştir. Bu kuramlar çeviribilimin farklı paradigmalarını teşkil etmektedir. Bugüne gelindiğinde ise çeviribilimin dilsel ve kültürel aktarım kadar bir teknoloji aktarımı olduğu gözlemlenmeye başlamıştır. O halde çeviri sürecinde uzman konumunda itibar edilen ve aldığı kararlara saygı gösterilmesi gereken çevirmenin sahip olduğu dilsel ve kültürel edincin yanı sıra teknoloji edinci de geliştirmesi son derece önem arz etmektedir. Çevirmen teknolojiye niçin ihtiyaç duyar? Bir çeviribilim öğrencisi için teknolojinin önemi nedir? Teknoloji çeviri sürecinde nasıl bir etkiye sahiptir? Pek çok alanda yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler 21.yüzyılda dijital devrim veya dijital çağın gelişmesine katkı yapmıştır. Yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler genellikle bilgisayar endüstrisinin hızlı büyümesini sağlayan Bilgi Teknolojileri (BT) alanında gerçekleşmiştir.

This paper aims at showing the advantages of a new translator training based on Kiraly's social constructivism approach compared to a traditional transmission approach. It is already believed that the modern translator training must be conducted according to a social constructivist approach suggesting a paradigm shift in the academic translation teaching. So far historical translation theories (mostly literary) have generally overlooked needs and technology driven localization market and could not go beyond a theoretical point. Functional theories have succeeded in the practical field of translation but they must be revised with the immsense rise of communication and information technologies,which means an increasing amount of (real time) translation tasks in the field of ICT. In the light of this, the study tries to discover the underlying reasons for the acceptence of a new paradigm in the translation teaching as well as questioning the so called new paradigm in the academic translation teaching to legitimate the localization paradigm in general and evaluating this new field of translation in terms of its theoretization and its position under the Translation Studies.

The notion of localization has been examined by many scholars in Translation Studies (Benko and Rajčanová 1998; Esselink 2000; Pym 2001, 2004; Bernal- Merino 2006; O’Hagan and Mangiron 2013; Jiménez- Crespo 2018). Nonetheless, it seems that there is a divide in theoretical approaches to localization between the localization industry and Translation Studies scholars. The localization industry defines  translation only on a lexical level; it does not consider the shifts made due to things like cultural differences to be a part of the translation process, but rather sees it as an independent process conducted during localization. On the other hand, Translation Studies scholars have considered the problem of intercultural transfer as a relevant part of translation since the cultural paradigm shift in the 1980s. This different perspective on translation and localization is mainly visible in translation and localization agencies and associations. The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defined localization as “taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale […] where it will be used and sold” (Esselink 2000, 3). A quite similar definition of localization (albeit of literary texts) was given by Popovič (referencing Reiss 1971) as “an adaptation of thematic elements of the original connected with the locale of the original […] aiming to meet the conventions of the recipient” (1975, 278). In the Slovak Translation Studies tradition, we could call this “adaptation of thematic elements of the original” naturalization. The aim of this chapter is to analyze different theoretical sources dealing with translation and localization, and present relevant theories and descriptions by scholars and localization associations of what localization is and what translation is within it. The focus then shifts to proposing a context- based definition of localization
that would encompass both translation and culture. Such a definition could (at least to some extent) resolve the issues between the two clashing scholarly approaches to translation and localization.

Localization is central to the adaptation of a product to the needs of customers in a particular market. In the modern context of technological development, localization has become a motivating field of activity for language experts. Nevertheless, localization is quite challenging for language experts since they may have to adapt to a very flexible workflow during the process. They may use their linguistic skills in conjunction with basic IT skills and an ability to understand data structures within different programming languages. In addition to programming skills, the process of localization requires in-depth technical knowledge of localization tools and QA software.
Depending on the project specifications, a localizer may use a wide range of tools to enable efficient, high quality localization. The localization tools a professional uses fall into two categories: tools specific to the language industry (CAT tools, MT engines, terminology management tools, and QA software) and developer tools (simple text editors, source code editors, HTML editors, image editors, sound editors, subtitle editors, and so on). In both scenarios, the localizer may use free/open access tools and commercial tools. Nevertheless, commercial tools, having been heavily promoted, enjoy significant popularity in the field. Due to their high cost, commercial localization tools are unaffordable for most translators. Freelance and young localizers in particular have difficulty acquiring expensive localization software.
The main objective of this article is to discuss existing online tools involved used in the localization process with a focus on free/open access software. Furthermore, we attempt to discuss recent developments and advancements in the area of localization tools, pointing out different categories, including online tools, cloud-based applications, and virtual platforms.
Our initial hypothesis is that many localization tools are available on the Internet as online tools, virtual platforms, and cloud-based applications. Since they are not part of formal translator training in localization, they are little known by the majority of localizers. Nevertheless, they offer a number of advantages, such as flexibility, accessibility, and ubiquity. In specific contexts, they may be more efficient than commercial tools. Even if some parts of common online localization tools are not free, their cost is often affordable for freelance translators. However, numerous online tools and cloud-based applications are free to access, and represent an excellent alternative to commercial localization tools.
In order to achieve the objectives of our research, this paper discusses the different categories of localisation tools we consider most appropriate for language experts involved in software localization activities. The list of localization tools presented in this paper may be of interest to professional translators, localizers, professors, and students.

The work of Slovak Translation Studies scholars often deals with the competences of literary translators (e.g., Keníž 2018), translators of non-literary texts (e.g., Angelovičová 2018), and audiovisual translators (e.g., Paulínyová and Perez 2018). Not much focus is given to the competences of translators of software products (websites, software, and videogames), which is understandable given that localization does not get a lot of attention in Slovakia. The following article aims to be a contribution to the discourse on competences in Slovak Translation Studies, and it focuses on the translation of software products (localization). Firstly, it introduces competences from different fields of translation, and then it presents a set of competences of software translators. In doing so, it uses works by Mangiron and O’Hagan (2013) and Jimenez-Crespo (2013) as a foundation that is later confronted with practical issues from the present author’s own experience.

Software localization data is critical to modern software which is used in multiple countries and languages. The author investigated existing literature around software localization and conducted a survey of persons involved in collecting and maintaining locale data. The results of the survey were analyzed to determine the major challenges in this field.

The video game industry which originated in 1960s is now an important entertainment industry mostly thanks to the digital revolution, especially as of 2000s. In parallel, the video game industry gains today million dollars and this will be increasing more as the number of gamers enhances. Therefore, this study emphasizes the position of the game localization training within the academic translation teaching by analysing two universities’ translation courses and thus questions the availability and the position of the game localization training among the related courses. The study also touched on other universities in this regard. Before the analysis, the study offers some information about the definition of the game localization, some of its features and its reflections on the related courses. In addition, aspects such as the translation competence which would-be translators must develop and tools used in the process so as to make student translators familiar with this new type of tr...

Software terminology is affected by several different factors, such as videogame and non-videogame software, fast software development and expansion, software development in other than anglophone locales and languages, and specific terminologies created by companies that own a given software (Corbolante and Irmler 2001). Terminology in software localization is therefore increasingly dynamic. A thorough analysis and description of this dynamic is probably not possible, but it should be possible to at least create a comprehensive terminology database for the purposes of software localization. The aim of this article is to introduce a model for such a terminology database, as there is still one missing in Slovakia.

—In this paper, we raise the problem of adapting Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in local languages of Cameroon. This work is a contribution to the reduction of digital and language divides. It also paves ways for the usage of such technologies to local populations who don't understand this technological language. We first discuss and highlight several concerns about the localisation of ICTs. Afterwords, we address some challenges and issues to computerize cultural and linguistic features, and indigenous knowledge (IK) for national languages and cultures in Cameroon. As case study, we describe our experience in localising an open source editor for the Yémba language, within the of Rural Electronic Schools in African Languages Project. Because Cameroonian languages are based on the same basic alphabet, this qualitative research is extensible to other languages.