RE: Defining Globalization, Internationalization & Localization

Susan,

Attached is a PDF file of how we here at Microsoft see the world
Internationalization.  One of the difference you will see is our use of
the terms Internationalization and Globalization.  They are just the
opposite of what you have in the document.  If you just interchange the
terms with what you have there should be no problems.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards, Russ (rrolfe)
One of the World-Ready Guides (wrg)
Are you World-Ready?  http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev


-----Original Message-----
From: public-i18n-geo-request@w3.org
[mailto:public-i18n-geo-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Najib Tounsi
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 7:13 AM
To: Miller, Susan K
Cc: public-i18n-geo@w3.org
Subject: Re: Defining Globalization, Internationalization & Localization


Hello Susan,

Thank for doing those clarifications.

Just some comments:

---------------------
"The Internet has clearly been a driving force behind this
activity/process."
s/Internet/Internet_and_particularily_the_Web/
or something like

It's often said that it is the WWW which has popularized the usage of
Internet.
A kind of "driving force" of the Internet ;-) No?

---------------------
"... support for elements that may not be implemented until localization
occurs (e.g., bidi tags)"

In my comprehension bidi tags are an effort of Internationalization
rather than Localization.
Indeed, bidi-tags may not be 'used/needed/implemented' until some
localization occurs, e.g. design of an, Arabic say, Web site.

---------------------
About the ordering of paragraphs 2 and 3.
The word 'localization' is used in the "Internationalization" paragraph
(and in the last one "Putting the concepts together"). May be introduce
the localization concept before the internationalization one?

---------------------
In the Localization paragraph, the list of customization (Color, Kbd,
Symbols,  Icons, dates ...) is, I would say, syntacic-oriented.
Some "culturally appropriate and sensitive" adaptations may be more
'semantic' (if not more complicated ...) An  example of a such  thing
(inspired from a real experience): suppose a localization of a DBMS tool
or tutorial. An often used DB for illustration is a "wine database". It
is clear that for ("locale") regions where alcool is prohibited, this
example might look "culturally inappropriate". At least since some
people may not be familiar with.

Najib


Miller, Susan K wrote:

>An initial draft of the FAQ "How do you define globalization, 
>internationalization and localization? How are these concepts related?"
>is available at http://www.w3.org/International/questions/qa-i18n.
>Please provide your comments prior to the Wednesday, September 22 
>telecon.
>Thanks!
>Susan K. Miller
>Communications Web Team
>The Boeing Company
>ph. 206.544.1417
>
>
>
>
>  
>


--
Najib TOUNSI (mailto:tounsi@w3.org)
Bureau W3C au Maroc (http://www.w3c.org.ma/) Ecole Mohammadia
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