Arabic Internationalization

Arabic Internationalization (I18n) can be defined as the process of enabling back-end technologies to function or support the Arabic language and the locales in which it is used. Localization, on the other hand, deals primarily with the front-end or linguistic and cosmetic aspects of an Arabic-language software application or Web site, including locale-specific content, cultural correctness, translations, and design.

Some of the reasons for internationalizing are to ensure your Arabic-language application or Web site:

  • Supports non-English characters and the bidirectional (right-to-left) writing system used in Arabic;
  • Sorts based on Arabic language rules;
  • Allows the externalization of all translatable text strings (i.e., separating text from code);
  • Handles the different address, time, date, and numerical formats used in Arabic.

The process of Arabic internationalization may include the following four steps:

  1. Discovery - Includes the preparation of an Arabic internationalization kit and an analysis of the current internationalization readiness of the source Web site or software application.
  2. Assessment - Includes review and analysis of the following:
    • Source architecture and source code of Web site or software application.
    • Global marketing plans and requirements.
    • Design, development and build processes.
    • Current I18N and localization strategies.
  3. Implementation - Includes the following:
    • Externalizing text strings for ease of localization.
    • Resolving any currency, time, date, or numbers issues.
    • If necessary, enabling double-byte characters or bidirectional writing.
    • Creating an I18n-friendly build methodology.
    • Preparing an I18n test plan.
    • Preparing a localization kit.
    • Carrying out training on I18n.
    • Introduction of I18n tools and any required tool training.
  4. Testing - Includes client-driven I18n and DBCS-enablement testing, bug reporting/fixing and regression testing.

For more information on Internationalization, please see our Quick Facts Library or follow one links listed above.