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

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Handling terminology translation and localization in DITA is essential for defense organizations operating in global or multilingual contexts. It ensures that documentation is accessible and understandable to users in different languages or regions. DITA offers a structured approach to manage and implement terminology translation and localization, improving the effectiveness and accessibility of defense documentation.

One key strategy is to maintain separate DITA topics for each language or region, which can be organized within the DITA map. For example, if a defense document needs to be translated into English, French, and Spanish, separate DITA topics are created for each language version. These topics contain translated content, including terminology, and can be linked within the DITA map. This approach allows for the easy management of translated terminology and content for various languages or regions.

Additionally, DITA’s support for conditional processing is valuable for managing terminology translation. Organizations can use conditional processing attributes to specify which terminology or content is visible in specific language versions. This ensures that users see the relevant terminology in their language, enhancing the user experience and clarity of the documentation.

Example:

Imagine a defense organization needs to provide documentation in multiple languages. Separate DITA topics are created for each language version, such as English, French, and Spanish. Within these topics, terminology and content are translated accordingly, and conditional processing attributes are used to control the visibility of specific content based on the language version.


<!-- DITA map for multilingual documentation -->
<map>
  <title>Multilingual Defense Documentation</title>
  <topicref href="defense_document_en.dita" xml_lang="en"/>
  <topicref href="defense_document_fr.dita" xml_lang="fr"/>
  <topicref href="defense_document_es.dita" xml_lang="es"/>
</map>

<!-- DITA topic for English version -->
<topic id="defense_document_en">
  <title>Defense Document (English)</title>
  <body>
    <p>This is the English version of the defense document.</p>
    <p>If you encounter the term <termref href="terminology_en.dita"/><, it means...</p>
  </body>
</topic>

<!-- DITA topic for French version -->
<topic id="defense_document_fr">
  <title>Document de défense (Français)</title>
  <body>
    <p>Il s'agit de la version française du document de défense.</p>
    <p>Si vous rencontrez le terme <termref href="terminology_fr.dita"/><, cela signifie...</p>
  </body>
</topic>

<!-- DITA topic for Spanish version -->
<topic id="defense_document_es">
  <title>Documento de Defensa (Español)</title>
  <body>
    <p>Esta es la versión en español del documento de defensa.</p>
    <p>Si encuentra el término <termref href="terminology_es.dita"/><, significa...</p>
  </body>
</topic>

By adopting this approach, defense organizations can effectively manage terminology translation and localization, ensuring that their documentation is accessible and relevant to users in different language regions.