Translation tips - language declaration + linked document language indication

Dear translators

I often have to get back to you about language declaration, so I thought  
I'd send a global e-mail with the tip.

Most the time the documents that you choose for translation bear a  
declaration that language used in English (it is not always the case,  
depending on how old the document you have selected is).

It is a good idea to update the language declaration and reflect the  
language you're using, and it is a good idea to add a language declaration  
of the language you're using, if there is none declared originally.

For further information, I recommend this:
   http://www.w3.org/TR/i18n-html-tech-lang/#ri20030112.213801634

And this tool is awesome to help you pick the adequate language subtag:
   http://rishida.net/utils/subtags/


There is another point for which I often have to get back to you. For  
links in language(s) other than the document language, it is a good idea  
to use the hreflang attribute of the <a> element. For example, link to the  
W3C homepage, which is a document in English, should be <a  
href="http://www.w3.org/ hreflang="en">W3C home page</a>.


Best regards,
Coralie


-- 
Coralie Mercier      W3C Communications Team      mailto:coralie@w3.org
              World Wide Web Consortium - http://www.w3.org
ERCIM/W3C - N112 - 2004, rte des lucioles - 06560 Sophia Antipolis - FR
T:+33(0)492387590 F:+33(0)492387822  http://www.w3.org/People/CMercier/

Received on Friday, 14 August 2009 13:51:20 UTC