Machine translation can indeed assist in indexing for localized DITA content, making it easier to create index entries in multiple languages. This approach can significantly streamline the indexing process when dealing with translated content. Here’s how it can be done:

1. Automated Translation

Utilize machine translation tools to automatically generate index entries in the target languages. When you have your source language index, you can feed the terms into machine translation software, which will provide translations for each term. This helps create a preliminary index for localized versions.

2. Human Review and Refinement

While machine translation can expedite the process, it’s essential to have human reviewers who are proficient in both the source and target languages. These reviewers can ensure that the translated index entries are accurate and culturally appropriate. They can refine the translations and adapt them to the nuances of each language and region.

3. Validation and Testing

Before finalizing the index, conduct validation and testing with native speakers of the target languages. This step ensures that the index entries are not only linguistically correct but also contextually relevant for the local audience. Any necessary adjustments can be made based on user feedback.

Example:

Here’s an example of how machine translation can be used to assist in creating index entries for localized DITA content:

<index>
  <indexterm xml_lang="en-US">Installation</indexterm>
  <indexterm xml_lang="fr-FR">Installation (French translation)</indexterm>
  <indexterm xml_lang="es-ES">Instalación (Spanish translation)</indexterm>
  <indexterm xml_lang="de-DE">Installation (German translation)</indexterm>
  <indexterm xml_lang="ja-JP">インストール (Japanese translation)</indexterm>
</index>

In this example, the source language index term “Installation” is translated into multiple languages using machine translation. Human reviewers then refine the translations, and validation with native speakers ensures linguistic accuracy and relevance.