What are the best practices for preparing film content for translation in DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Preparing film content for translation in DITA involves following best practices to ensure a smooth and efficient localization process while maintaining content quality and consistency across languages. These practices are vital for film organizations looking to reach global audiences effectively.

Use of Key Terminology

One of the essential best practices is to maintain a glossary or terminology database within your DITA content. This glossary should include key terms specific to your film production or genre. Consistently using approved terminology across your content helps translators accurately convey the intended meaning and maintain consistency in translations.

Modular Content Structure

Organize your content into smaller, modular topics in DITA. This modular approach allows for easier translation management, as translators can work on individual topics independently. It also facilitates content reuse, as translated topics can be shared across different projects and genres, saving time and effort.

Example:

Here’s an example of how modular content can aid in translation:


<topic id="scene_description">
  <title>Scene Description</title>
  <body>
    <p>This topic provides a description of a scene in the film.</p>
    <section id="characters">
      <title>Characters</title>
      <p>Descriptions of characters in the scene.</p>
    </section>
    <section id="locations">
      <title>Locations</title>
      <p>Descriptions of the scene's locations.</p>
    </section>
  </body>
</topic>

In this example, the “Scene Description” topic is divided into sections for characters and locations. Translators can work on these sections independently, ensuring efficient translation workflows.