Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili

Rufus Karani Munyua; Tom Olali

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili

Rufus Karani Munyua, Tom Olali

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 5 April 2019 Accepted: 29 May 2019 Published: 12 June 2019

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Abstract

Computer software and the Internet has now become a worldwide commodity and unlike before when the market was limited to major languages such as English, it has now grown to include even smaller languages such as Kiswahili. This has been made possible through translation and localization of software products and Applications so that firstly, people can access those products and Applications in the language that they understand better and secondly, the products and sites are packaged in the form that is acceptable by the target culture. In order to deliver properly localized products and Applications, the role of the localization translator as an expert in linguistic and cultural mediation is crucial. This paper looks at perspectives and strategies employed by localizers to localize some of Google software products and Internet sites. This is done from the point of view of Translation Studies and particularly from the communicative-functional approach to translation. The paper looks into the linguistic, mechanical, cultural and other translatorial dimensions to translations that play out to facilitate the communicative function of Google’s software products that have been localized in Kiswahili.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
Page(s)	15-20
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Software Localization, Equivalence, Lexical and Terminological Units

References

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APA Style

Rufus Karani Munyua, Tom Olali. (2019). Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 5(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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ACS Style

Rufus Karani Munyua; Tom Olali. Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2019, 5(1), 15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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AMA Style

Rufus Karani Munyua, Tom Olali. Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2019;5(1):15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13,
  author = {Rufus Karani Munyua and Tom Olali},
  title = {Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {15-20},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  abstract = {Computer software and the Internet has now become a worldwide commodity and unlike before when the market was limited to major languages such as English, it has now grown to include even smaller languages such as Kiswahili. This has been made possible through translation and localization of software products and Applications so that firstly, people can access those products and Applications in the language that they understand better and secondly, the products and sites are packaged in the form that is acceptable by the target culture. In order to deliver properly localized products and Applications, the role of the localization translator as an expert in linguistic and cultural mediation is crucial. This paper looks at perspectives and strategies employed by localizers to localize some of Google software products and Internet sites. This is done from the point of view of Translation Studies and particularly from the communicative-functional approach to translation. The paper looks into the linguistic, mechanical, cultural and other translatorial dimensions to translations that play out to facilitate the communicative function of Google’s software products that have been localized in Kiswahili.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili
AU  - Rufus Karani Munyua
AU  - Tom Olali
Y1  - 2019/06/12
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 15
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
AB  - Computer software and the Internet has now become a worldwide commodity and unlike before when the market was limited to major languages such as English, it has now grown to include even smaller languages such as Kiswahili. This has been made possible through translation and localization of software products and Applications so that firstly, people can access those products and Applications in the language that they understand better and secondly, the products and sites are packaged in the form that is acceptable by the target culture. In order to deliver properly localized products and Applications, the role of the localization translator as an expert in linguistic and cultural mediation is crucial. This paper looks at perspectives and strategies employed by localizers to localize some of Google software products and Internet sites. This is done from the point of view of Translation Studies and particularly from the communicative-functional approach to translation. The paper looks into the linguistic, mechanical, cultural and other translatorial dimensions to translations that play out to facilitate the communicative function of Google’s software products that have been localized in Kiswahili.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Rufus Karani Munyua

Centre for Translation and Interpretation, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Tom Olali

Department of Kiswahili, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

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APA Style

Rufus Karani Munyua, Tom Olali. (2019). Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 5(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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ACS Style

Rufus Karani Munyua; Tom Olali. Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2019, 5(1), 15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

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AMA Style

Rufus Karani Munyua, Tom Olali. Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2019;5(1):15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13,
  author = {Rufus Karani Munyua and Tom Olali},
  title = {Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {15-20},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20190501.13},
  abstract = {Computer software and the Internet has now become a worldwide commodity and unlike before when the market was limited to major languages such as English, it has now grown to include even smaller languages such as Kiswahili. This has been made possible through translation and localization of software products and Applications so that firstly, people can access those products and Applications in the language that they understand better and secondly, the products and sites are packaged in the form that is acceptable by the target culture. In order to deliver properly localized products and Applications, the role of the localization translator as an expert in linguistic and cultural mediation is crucial. This paper looks at perspectives and strategies employed by localizers to localize some of Google software products and Internet sites. This is done from the point of view of Translation Studies and particularly from the communicative-functional approach to translation. The paper looks into the linguistic, mechanical, cultural and other translatorial dimensions to translations that play out to facilitate the communicative function of Google’s software products that have been localized in Kiswahili.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analyzing the Perspectives and Strategies in Localizing Software in Kiswahili
AU  - Rufus Karani Munyua
AU  - Tom Olali
Y1  - 2019/06/12
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 15
EP  - 20
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190501.13
AB  - Computer software and the Internet has now become a worldwide commodity and unlike before when the market was limited to major languages such as English, it has now grown to include even smaller languages such as Kiswahili. This has been made possible through translation and localization of software products and Applications so that firstly, people can access those products and Applications in the language that they understand better and secondly, the products and sites are packaged in the form that is acceptable by the target culture. In order to deliver properly localized products and Applications, the role of the localization translator as an expert in linguistic and cultural mediation is crucial. This paper looks at perspectives and strategies employed by localizers to localize some of Google software products and Internet sites. This is done from the point of view of Translation Studies and particularly from the communicative-functional approach to translation. The paper looks into the linguistic, mechanical, cultural and other translatorial dimensions to translations that play out to facilitate the communicative function of Google’s software products that have been localized in Kiswahili.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download