I recently had a client who requested a website that would give the users the option to view the content in Spanish, since most of her clientele was Spanish speaking only. Hmmm...no biggie. I made sure each page was displayed only in one consistent language and added the lang attribute in the head. That way, the search engine knows that the same content is available in a different language.
But then, I remembered that translating languages can be an issue. For example, 'the white house' translated to Spanish is not 'blanca casa' it is 'casa blanca'. Did you know colors are perceived differently across cultures? In India, red is associated with purity, whereas in Western countries, red could be perceived as excitement or danger. What if in the future, I get a client whose culture I am not familiar with? Would I know how to build their website? What should I be cautious with?
Developing or Designing for Multilingual Sites
As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the need for multilingual sites is growing rapidly. A multilingual site is a website that supports multiple languages, allowing users to interact with the site in their native language. However, designing and developing a multilingual site is not as straightforward as it may seem. Here are some things to be wary of when designing and developing for multilingual sites:
- Localization
Localization is the process of adapting your website to meet the language, cultural, and other requirements of a particular region or country. This includes more than just translating the text on your website. You must consider how different languages and cultures approach content, layout, and design. For example, the placement of images, the direction of text, and even color choices can differ between cultures. Just like my previous example with the color red.
- Content Management
You need to ensure that the content management system (CMS) you use can handle multiple languages. The CMS should have features that allow you to easily manage translations and add new languages. Additionally, you need to consider how you will manage content that is only relevant to specific regions or countries.
- Navigation
When designing a multilingual site, navigation is a crucial element. You need to make sure that your site's navigation is intuitive and easy to use in all languages. This includes considering the order of the menu items, the layout of the navigation bar, and how dropdown menus work.
- Fonts
Different languages use different character sets, and some languages require specific fonts. Therefore, you need to ensure that the fonts you use on your site can support all the languages you plan to use. Otherwise, users may not be able to read the content on your site.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is an essential aspect of any website, including multilingual sites. You need to make sure that your site's content is optimized for the languages you plan to use. This includes researching keywords for each language, creating unique meta descriptions and title tags for each language, and ensuring that your site's structure is SEO-friendly.
- User Interface
The user interface (UI) of your site is the way users interact with your website. It includes the layout, design, and functionality of your site. When designing a multilingual site, you need to ensure that the UI is consistent across all languages. This includes the use of icons, images, and other visual elements.
In conclusion, designing and developing for multilingual sites requires careful consideration of a variety of factors. From localization to font choice, each element of your site needs to be optimized for the languages you plan to use. By being wary of these things, you can create a successful and user-friendly multilingual site that reaches a wider audience.