How do manufacturing organizations handle terminology translation and localization in DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Manufacturing organizations use DITA to handle terminology translation and localization efficiently, ensuring that their documentation can be adapted for different languages and regions without compromising accuracy or consistency. This process is critical for organizations with a global presence to reach a broader audience and comply with regional requirements.

Content Profiling

Manufacturing organizations start by profiling their content to identify which elements require translation and localization. DITA allows content profiling by tagging specific elements for translation. For example, they may tag text elements, product names, or descriptions that need to be localized. These tags serve as instructions for translation teams to focus their efforts on the designated content.

Localization Files

Once the content is profiled, organizations export DITA documents into localization files that can be easily shared with translation teams. These files contain the tagged content and provide context for the translators. The localization process involves translating and adapting the content to the target language, including adjusting formatting, date formats, units of measurement, and other regional requirements. After translation, the content is re-imported into the DITA structure, maintaining the link between the original and translated versions.

Example:

Here’s an example of how manufacturing organizations use DITA for terminology translation and localization:


<topic id="product_description">
  <title>Product Description</title>
  <body>
    <p>The <localization term="product_name"/> is designed for use in a variety of industries.</p>
    <p><localization term="description"/></p>
  </body>

In this example, the “product_name” and “description” elements are tagged for localization. The localization process involves translating these specific elements to the target language and adapting them to the regional context while maintaining the overall document structure.