Managing right-to-left (RTL) language support in DITA localization is essential for delivering content that meets the needs of languages like Arabic and Hebrew. RTL languages require text and layout adjustments to ensure a user-friendly experience. Here’s how organizations handle RTL language support in DITA:

Text Direction

The primary challenge in RTL language support is adjusting the text direction. While most languages, including English, are written from left to right (LTR), RTL languages are written from right to left. In DITA, organizations need to specify the text direction at the document level or the element level. This ensures that text is displayed correctly, and elements like lists and tables are properly oriented for RTL readers.

Layout Adaptations

RTL support often requires layout adaptations. Visual elements such as images, icons, and buttons may need to be mirrored or repositioned to align with RTL reading. Organizations need to adjust the placement of navigation menus, pagination controls, and other interface components to ensure they are accessible and usable for RTL users.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA allows for specifying RTL text direction:

<topic id="rtl_support" language="ar">
  <title>Managing RTL Language Support</title>
  <text-direction>rtl</text-direction>
  <layout-adaptations>Adjusting layout for Arabic content...
  </layout-adaptations>

In this example, the DITA topic is in Arabic, and it specifies RTL text direction. It also includes details about layout adaptations to ensure a seamless RTL user experience.