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Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization

  • Lahousseine Id-youss and Abied Alsulaiman
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Handbook of Terminology
This chapter is in the book Handbook of Terminology

Abstract

Software localization constitutes an important economic and cultural activity. It involves producing a version of a software product in a different language (the target language) than the language of the original version (the source language). The technical challenges associated with software localization seem to receive more attention from field specialists, while linguistic matters are considered secondary in importance. This article aims to highlight linguistic requirements in software localization through a study of the Arabic localized version of Skype. In particular, we will demonstrate that the linguistic approach adopted by the localizer is largely literal, and this has ramifications for product quality.

Abstract

Software localization constitutes an important economic and cultural activity. It involves producing a version of a software product in a different language (the target language) than the language of the original version (the source language). The technical challenges associated with software localization seem to receive more attention from field specialists, while linguistic matters are considered secondary in importance. This article aims to highlight linguistic requirements in software localization through a study of the Arabic localized version of Skype. In particular, we will demonstrate that the linguistic approach adopted by the localizer is largely literal, and this has ramifications for product quality.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
  5. Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
  6. Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
  7. Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
  8. Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
  9. Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
  10. Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
  11. Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
  12. Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
  13. Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
  14. List of contributors 255
  15. Index 259
https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.2.10idy

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
  5. Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
  6. Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
  7. Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
  8. Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
  9. Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
  10. Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
  11. Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
  12. Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
  13. Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
  14. List of contributors 255
  15. Index 259
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