Maintaining a MultiLingual System

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Maintaining a Multi-Lingual System

• Susanna Aakko
• Nina Penttinen
• HelMet Library

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Language Options

• Staff User Interface Languages
• FIN Finnish and ENG English
• WebPAC User Interface Languages
• FIN Finnish, SWE Swedish and ENG English
• Millennium in Finnish Circulation, Serials
• Millennium in English Cataloguing, Admin
• NB Login language
• WebPAC Pro in Finnish, Swedish and English

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To translate

• What is the goal?
• Customer service in libraries
• Finnish terminology
• Most used functions are translated
• Web services for customers
• Better service
• Finnish legislation
• All functions are translated

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Or not to translate?

• Lots of work
• English terminology is needed
• CSDirect, User Guide and Reference
• Opening calls in Help Desk
• Functionality is not used in HelMet Libraries

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Where do the translations come from?

• Translation Station
• System parameters
• Circulation parameters, Circulation notice texts
• Advanced system access and administration
• OPAC options
• WWWOptions, WWW HTML Screens, buttons,
  webpub.def, messages.conf (more customization)
• Javascripting
• Co-operation is important

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Parameter problems and solutions

• Use only one language
• List of items is arranged alphabetically by
  English branch name
• Email notices are sent by HelMet-kirjasto
• Use two languages
• Hold Pickup Locations Itäkeskus/Östra Centrum

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Using Translation Station

• New web interface
• New translation strings can be installed only
  every two weeks
• Same translation can be used in several places
  its vital to test thoroughly
• Similar strings sometimes difficult to know
  which one to translate

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Translation process

• New releases available or new functionality
  implemented
• Testing new functions on training database
• Missing diacritics?
• Webpac language switches to English?
• Missing Finnish strings translated
• Missing Swedish strings sent to Eva Lachonius
• Writing Finnish instructions for customers
• Translating instructions to English and Swedish

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Translation problems and solutions

• New releases
• Changing hot keys
• Changing lower/uppercase letters
• Word for word translations or customised
  translations
• Update list Cancel holds or change hold pickup
  location
• Structural differences
• Prepositions vs. conjugations
• Sorted by relevance Valitse järjestys
  relevanssi
• Singular vs. plural
• Vocabulary
• Noun/verb (print)
• Only one Finnish translation (hold/request)

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In future

• Translating and implementing Research Pro
• Whether to offer all services in three languages
  (RSS news feeds)
• Services for Russian speaking patrons
• Cyrillic alphabet in HelMet (translitteration)
• Never-ending process