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Old 12-09-2003, 08:53   #12 (permalink)
Brown
volkswagen yellow & gold
 
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: london, england.
Posts: 6,147
no, there are ways to do it but they're very expensive.

i used a company who store all your translations in a database and if you enter a phrase that's already been translated, then it uses that translation - if its word for word then it uploads it straight away - otherwise it enters the translator's workflow. they always get a native language speaking person to read through it first so that it actually makes sense. people get emailed and click a button to say, yes correct, or no, back to the translators.

costs lots of dollars though - its semi-automated, guessing you wanted something for free eh? can't remember the url off the top of my head. will dig it out.

things to also remember other than just translation - iconography - pictures mean different things in differnt communities. images - stick to plain text and then you don't have to make loads of differnt gifs - have to release psd's to translators / font issues etc etc.

like bill says, colloquialisms are to be avoided. in england we say things like; 'i'm so hungry, i could eat a horse' and people know that you're not really gonna eat a horse, you're just hyperbolising. our french neighbours on the other side of the channel here however will probably make a dash for the fridge where they've got a nice stash of fine racing breed horse meat. dirty bastards.
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