How is content localization and translation managed in DITA for maritime content?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Managing content localization and translation in DITA for maritime content is essential for reaching a global audience and complying with various language requirements. DITA provides a structured approach to handle localization and translation efficiently. Here are key aspects of how DITA manages this process:

Localization Attributes

In DITA, documents can include localization attributes that specify the language and locale of the content. These attributes enable DITA to identify which parts of the content need translation or adaptation for specific regions or languages. Authors can set attributes like “xml:lang” to indicate the language of specific elements or sections within a document. This ensures that only relevant content is translated or localized, saving time and resources.

Translation Memory Integration

DITA integrates with translation memory systems, which are databases of previously translated content segments. When a piece of content in DITA requires translation, the system can check the translation memory for existing translations of similar or identical content. This feature helps maintain consistency in terminology and ensures that previously translated content is reused, reducing translation costs and speeding up the process.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA manages content localization with localization attributes:


<topic id="ship_overview" xml_lang="en-US">
  <title>Ship Overview</title>
  <body>
    <p>This is a detailed overview of the ship's specifications.</p>
    <section xml_lang="fr-FR">
      <p>Ceci est une description détaillée des spécifications du navire.</p>
    </section>
    <section xml_lang="es-ES">
      <p>Esta es una descripción detallada de las especificaciones del barco.</p>
    </section>
  </body>
</topic>

In this DITA topic, the “xml:lang” attribute is used to specify language variations for different sections of content. This allows for targeted translation and localization efforts for specific language audiences.