The majority of people believe that translation is solely a linguistic endeavor. They’re not aware, however, of the technological challenges and non-linguistic expertise needed to properly translate a text from one language to another, whether it’s for online consumption or publication.
One example is publication (or DTP Services, as it is commonly known). You may possibly wonder what DTP has to do with translation. Despite the fact that DTP is defined by Wikipedia as “the creation of documents using page layout software on a PC,” once we use the term “DTP” in the context of translation, we typically mean multilingual publication.
What is Multilingual DTP?
Let’s imagine you used InDesign to create a brochure. Now that the text has been translated, you’ve added it to your original ID file. However, something doesn’t feel quite right. You suddenly end up having to reduce the font size in order to fit all of the translated content on the page because of text overflow, corrupted characters, and crashed graphics. Ever heard of that?
Here are just some things to consider when handling DTP for translation:
- Text expansion and contraction: Documents translated from English to languages like French, Spanish, and Arabic, as an example, increase in word count and wish for more room or a lower font size. Graphics and menu items must be resized because German and Russian sentences can include dozens of characters.
- Languages written right to left: If your logo is within the upper left corner, it must be relocated to the right since right-to-left languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi require a special style.
- Font selection: There is no need to load all foreign fonts onto your computer. Ensure the font is easy to read, especially at the size you intend to use it. Avoid overly decorative or complex fonts that may hinder readability.
- Page Layout and Orientation: This may be familiar to you in English, but Japanese typesetting prevents certain characters from starting or ending lines, whereas Chinese typesetting places them correctly.
So why use multilingual DTP services?
- Using multilingual DTP vendors is particularly beneficial for languages and characters with complex syntax;
- Providers of multilingual DTP might offer suggestions to enhance the success of your project.
- Save time, money, and resources with multilingual DTP.
When your internal or external design team undertakes a layout project in a language that you and they do not understand, there’s always a risk associated.
We offer Multilingual DTP services at Language Solutions in over 80 different languages. Please get in-tuned with us if you have any inquiries or simply want to learn more. We also accept estimates and consultations regarding multilingual DTP.