The Guide to Translation and Localization: Localization Testing

Home

Join as a Member!

Post Your Job - Free!

All Translation Agencies

Advertisements

The Guide to Translation and Localization: Localization Testing

By Lingo Systems,
Portland, OR, U.S.A.

info at lingosys com
www.lingosys.com

Become a member of TranslationDirectory.com at just $12 per month (paid per year)

[ Table of Contents ]

Chapter 17: Localization Testing

What is Localization Testing?

by Leonard Morales

Localization of software is a complex process. There are a lot of potential failure points for any localization endeavor, both grammatical and cultural. For this reason, localization testing is an essential component in the development cycle of a successfully localized product.

Leonard Morales

PC Test Localization Engineer

Once upon a time I was born into a Spanish speaking household. My parents wished for me to learn Spanish, but I was determined to learn Japanese. I studied Japanese until I began studies of psychology and my true love, Opera. At this point it became quite necessary to study Italian, German, French, and Russian. I now manage localization quality assurance projects in 25 different languages. Surely my incalculable adventures with fate will have me cavorting with many more languages in the years to come. Twenty five languages down, 7300 (according to Ethnologue) more to go!

Localization testing consists of three primary components:

- Cosmetic Testing,

- Functional Testing, and

- Linguistic Testing.

Translator Requirements

At PC Test, our localization testing is executed by a team of Translators, QATest Engineers and QA Technicians. All of the translators are highly qualified and experienced professionals who are selected according to the following criteria:

- Translators must be a native of the nation from which the target language originates,

- Fluency in the commonly spoken form of English and the target language,

- Fluency in the technical terminology of English and the target language, and

- Experience:

- As a Translator,

- Working in the computer technology sector both in English and the target language,

- With a variety of platforms and applications.

Localization Methodology

All testing is performed on a system that is ghosted with a clean installation of the target language's OS version(s). Generally the ghosts have the latest patches and updates installed and are set for a typical user experience. Ghosts can easily be manipulated in accordance with our clients' specifications and requirements.

Cosmetic Testing

Cosmetic testing ensures that the localization process did not cause any visual errors. The aesthetic appeal of the localization is also judged during this process. The alignment and size consistency of buttons and boxes can contribute to a failure of the localized products acceptance in the target market simply because it is not visually appealing.

Extraneous Content

• Content (suing or character) that appears in the foreign localized version but not in the English version will be considered a failure in localization.

Text Truncation

• Occurs when a text field is allotted a space that is appropriate for the English version, but the target language translation requires a larger text field to accommodate the correct foreign spelling.

• Truncated words appear to be cut off. Truncation is highly prevalent in some localizations.

Text Overrun

• Occurs when the localized text exceeds the field boundary.

• Rare, but would be considered a failure in localization.

Menu Consistency

• Menus can also be affected by localization. Sometimes there are a different number of menu items in a localized version of software than in its English counterpart.

Unique Hot Keys

• Hot keys are occasionally doubled up within menus if they are not properly allocated during the localization process.

Functional Testing

Functionality problems can (and usually are) introduced during the localization process. To identify such errors, some of the basic operations that are commonly tested on the target platform are:

- Install, installation modification, and uninstall,

- Menu functions and hot keys,

- Basic driver manipulation and operation,

- Core application functions,

- Localized input device functionality (international keyboards and layouts),

- Regional default settings,

- Does the program default to the computer's regional setting and provide correct settings for items such as paper size, date/time, number, and currency formats?

- Copy and pasting of special characters into and out of the application

- Document transferability, and

- Can saved documents created in the domestic version be used in the localized version?

- Compatibility Testing.

- Testing the compatibility of the localized version with commonly used applications of the target market can expose problems that might occur on a typical end-user computer.

Linguistic Testing

Linguistic testing is the largest component of localization testing. Linguistic errors are also the most common errors in localization. Some of the key linguistic errors are as follows:

Missing Content,

• Content that appears in the English version but is missing from the target language version.

Spelling Errors,

• Checking for spelling errors in the foreign localized version will ensure that all words are spelled correctly and according to the standards of the foreign language.

Accuracy of Translation,

• Each word will be viewed and edited according to the highest standards of the foreign language.

• Slang terms and lower idioms of the language would be considered a failure in localization.

Literal vs. Functional Translations,

• Literal translations are not appropriate for localization because grammatical structure varies by language. A functional translation is the solution to this problem.

• Functional translations address these issues by ensuring that the translation is not just word for word but also adheres to the grammatical rules of the target language.

• Word-for-word sentence translation into any foreign language would not necessarily make any sense and may end up seeming bizarre to a native speaker of that language.

• Functional translations are critical to a successful localization.

Translation Consistency,

• Translation consistency is verified. This is primarily for standardized or official terminology such as naming schemes such as "Company X Software X."

• This example in particular would be left in English throughout the GUI as it is the name of the product and the company that produces it.

• This practice is the predominant standard of the industry.

• Translation consistency also verifies that functions with multiple instances are referenced using the same translation such as "close," "file," "edit," etc.

• Inconsistent translations are considered a failure in localization.

Language Style,

• Language style consistency ensures that the methods of description for items are consistent with the predominant style of the target language's technical terminology.

• In English you could say "sheet," "page," "paper" and they roughly could mean the same thing. The commonly accepted standard of style would dictate that "page" be used in many contexts for domestic products. Lack of style consistency would lower product acceptance in the target market.

Imperative Voice,

• The imperative voice is standard for verb tense usage for software.
Using the imperative voice is proper for software applications that are
localized as well.

Example: We would say, "Turn off Computer" not "This Button Turns Off the Computer." The imperative mood is often referred to as command voice, as in giving commands.

Punctuation,

• Punctuation is verified as appropriate.

• Punctuation is not the same in every language and thus the proper punctuation needs to be validated.

• If punctuation is incorrect, meaning can be lost.

Local Convention.

• Sensitivity to local convention is also considered in the localization process.

• Some phrases, words and gestures are offensive in some target markets that would be considered harmless domestically.

• Offensive content would be considered a failure in localization.

About PC Test

PCTest provides enterprise-wide testing services for hardware, software, and web/e-commerce applications. The company's state of the art testing lab is unrivalled in the Pacific Northwest. With a rolling inventory of more than 1,000 computers, PCTest can provide large scale network testing for any size client or system configuration. Core testing solutions include:

• Compatibility • Accessibility

• Load and Stress • Benchmarking

• Functionality • Performance

PCTest also offers comprehensive localization testing to provide unbiased, independent testing of your software applications after they have been translated into foreign languages. Using PCTest proprietary technology, engineers are able to test multiple languages concurrently, providing real-time test results through your online portal.

[ Table of Contents ]

Submit your article!