What role does linguistic validation play in DITA localization?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Linguistic validation is a crucial step in the DITA localization process, ensuring that the translated content meets linguistic and cultural requirements while maintaining the integrity of the original content. It plays a significant role in delivering content that resonates with the target audience in their language, addressing not only linguistic aspects but also cultural nuances.

Linguistic Review

The linguistic validation process involves a thorough linguistic review of the translated content. Linguists, often native speakers of the target language, assess the translated material for correctness, fluency, and adherence to the target language’s grammatical rules. They ensure that the content reads naturally and effectively in the target language while conveying the intended message.

Cultural Adaptation

Beyond linguistic accuracy, linguistic validation also encompasses cultural adaptation. This step involves identifying and addressing cultural differences that might impact the content’s reception in the target market. It ensures that idiomatic expressions, cultural references, and visual elements are culturally appropriate and resonate with the local audience. The aim is to make the content feel native to the target audience.

Example:

Here’s an example of linguistic validation in a DITA localization project:


<topic id="linguistic_validation_example">
  <title>Linguistic Validation</title>
  <body>
    <p>Linguistic validation ensures that translated content is not only linguistically accurate but also culturally adapted.</p>
  </body>
  <linguistic-validation>
    <linguistic-review>
      <feedback type="fluency" comment="Reworded for better fluency" />
    </linguistic-review>
    <cultural-adaptation>
      <adjustment location="Section 3" description="Replaced cultural reference with a local equivalent" />
    </cultural-adaptation>
  </linguistic-validation>

In this example, the DITA topic highlights the importance of linguistic validation. The linguistic-validation element includes a linguistic review with feedback on fluency and cultural adaptation adjustments for specific sections of the content.