How to create multilingual web pages30 August 2005
English may be the main language of business, but if you run a website and want to attract visitors whose first language is not English, you may wish to take a multilingual approach to providing information on your website.
Getting started
- Ask yourself whether you are trying to reach overseas markets, or just make it easier for the numerous groups of foreign language speakers in the UK to use your site. Do you simply want to offer the bare bones in another language and make it clear how overseas visitors can get in touch for more information, or will it be worth translating all your website content for each country you are targeting?
- Next, you should decide which languages you'll translate your information into. The National Centre for Languages has a useful portal for businesses interested in using multiple languages for increasing sales and exposure.
Once you have answers to these questions, you can start to look at adapting the pages on your site. If what you require is simple - such as the addition of a page giving contact details in another language - it might be a good idea to ask employees, customers or suppliers if they can help out. Take a look at multilingual pages offered by other businesses and see how they do it.
For very basic information, there is a wide range of online tools and resources to help you provide content in other languages.
- Use free tools like AltaVista's Babel Fish for very simple words and phrases.
- Check spellings and grammar using a multilingual dictionary like Babylon.
- You can also buy translation software like Translution and LEC , or see this this directory for a range of software options and reviews.
- Avoid using colloquialisms, slang and pop culture references in the content you want to translate, as these may not mean anything in languages other than English.
Using a translator
If you want pages of important information translated, it will be worth commissioning a professional translator.
- The best approach is to use a native speaker - this will ensure your content is accurately translated and reads well in the target language. For the major languages, there are many experienced translators, but it will make the task run more smoothly if you choose somebody who knows a little about HTML and writing for the web.
- There are several online directories worth consulting when you choose a translator. The Institute of Linguists offers a Find-a-Translator service , and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting has a searchable directory of members. Elsewhere, there is the Translator'sCafé.com and you can even put your work out to auction at ProZ.com.
- Once the work has been proofread and formatted you can upload it to your site and test the pages. Do special characters (for example those with accents) display properly? Does the text read well to a native speaker? And (something often forgotten in the process) is there somebody who will handle the queries or sales you hope the new pages will generate?
