German Internationalization

German Internationalization (I18n) can be defined as the process of enabling back-end technologies to function or support the German 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 a German-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 German application or Web site:

Sorts based on German 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 German.

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

Discovery - Includes the preparation of a German internationalization kit and an analysis of the current internationalization readiness of the source Web site or software application.
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.
Implementation - Includes the following:
- Externalizing text strings for ease of localization.
- Resolving any currency, time, date, or numbers issues.
- 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.
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 of the links listed above.