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Subject:RE: German From:Shea Michael EXT <Michael -dot- Shea -dot- extern -at- icn -dot- siemens -dot- de> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 9 Oct 2002 13:21:20 +0200
If I may summarize, if you are going to localize a product for the German market you should employ a native-speaker to translate terms, when appropriate (for example, do not translate commands that are not going to be translated in the software). It is unlikely you can gain native-speaker level of skill without decades of experience in the target language area, if ever. Preferrably the native-speaker with experience in your product field (for example a translator who is knowledgable about terms in the semiconductor field might make a muddle of product which is destined for the insurance industry). A final note was an attempt to clarify that German is actually spoken in countries other than just Germany and though a professional translator would undoubtedly use standard high German (hoch deutsch) if you chose a translator from a region with a strong dialect your readers might notice. The last comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Summarily,
Michael Shea
XpressLink Documentation
c/o ICN AS BA ST2
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Michael Shea
ROSEMANN & LAURIDSEN GMBH
Am Schlossberg 14, D-82547 Eurasburg, Germany
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