Localization/Working in the localization industry

Roles in localization

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Localization Project Managers are the bridge between clients and vendors (Language Service Providers) in a localization process.

LOC PMs typically handle following tasks and possess a set of important skills:

  • Identification of project scope
  • Accurate planning of a project timeline
  • Vendor allocation and interaction
  • Collaboration with business requestors, developers/engineers and Linguistic QA to ensure proper and error-free localization results
  • High attention to detail, efficient time management, strong organizational skills
  • Establish and optimize process workflows as needed
  • Budgeting
  • Strong understanding of internationalization and culturalization
  • Knowledge of CAT tools and common localization file types (XML, HTML etc.)
  • Often have at least one strong Language proficiency in addition to English

Engineer

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Localization engineering is the role related to design, development, operation and support of the localization process on a technical level. It can serve many purposes, such as

  • the development or deployment of infrastructure to run a localization process
  • the prepare of resources to be localized to fit them into existing processes
  • the adaptation of localization tools or frameworks, parsers for best handling (e.g. XML schema preparation)
  • activities around quality control and bug fixing on translated material (post-localization engineering)
  • the consultation of other stakeholders in the localization process on a technical level.

The localization engineer usually has a degree in a technical field, such as computer science and coding skills and experience with high-level programming languages.

QA/tester

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Localization QA/testing deals with identifying linguistic, cosmetic and functional errors/bugs that may have been introduced during the localization process.[1]

Localization testers aim to find problems such as:

  • Missing content
  • Non-functional features (e.g. links, input/output behavior of forms)
  • UI and layout defects like misalignment, overlap, extra or missing controls
  • Truncations and text bleeding issues caused by text expansion
  • Character corruption or encoding issues in display and input
  • Sorting issues related to a specific language’s alphabet
  • Incorrect date, time, or calendar formats
  • Errors in currency conversions or monetary symbols
  • Incorrect unit conversions, numeric formats, separators, or negatives

Translator

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Terminologist

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Terminologists are language professionals who study, create, and use terminology, especially in professional translation project management. A terminologist may facilitate the writing, editing, and translation process by researching and locating information that may assist linguists and language services professionals produce high-quality translations. Terminologists ensure accuracy, consistency, and appropriateness of usage of terms.

Linguistic Expert/Reviewer

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Working in intercultural teams

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Working in Localization means, by default, working with or in intercultural teams. When working in intercultural teams it is important to consider the following aspects:

  • Cultural and ethical differences
  • Language differences or different skill levels of shared language (e.g. native English speakers vs speakers of English as second language)
  • Communication style differences
  • Gestures and body language interpretation
  • Conscious and unconscious cultural biases

Working across the globe

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The Localization industry is globally dispersed by nature[2]. Working across different geographies entails working through a number of practical obstacles, such as:

  • Different time zones
  • International and regional holidays
  • Different seasonal vacation times
  • Different work times and work weeks
  • International and regional laws
  • Social, economic, political or natural events
  • Currency differences
  • Language barriers
  • Technical barriers (e.g. bandwidth, access to technology)
  • Lack of face-to-face communication
  1. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/147991/Downloads/Services/moravia-localization-testing-solution-brief.pdf?t=1521256045358
  2. https://www.nimdzi.com/remote-working-in-localization-full-report/#data