| Did you know that in 2002, an estimated 32% | | | | will soon be in the minority when it comes to |
| of Internet users were non-English speakers? | | | | Internet use.- Results of research carried |
| With the phenomenal growth of computer usage | | | | out by Nielsen-Net ratings in March 2005 |
| and the spread of the net fever, especially | | | | described foreign internet markets as "low |
| in the third world countries, the figure | | | | hanging fruit," i.e. if you have the will and |
| would have multiplied manifold in the past 4 | | | | foresight there are massive revenues to be |
| years.In fact, the Internet is fast becoming | | | | found for relatively little effort.- As |
| the basic and fundamental source and | | | | Kaizad Gotla, senior analyst at |
| dissemination of information, purchases of | | | | Nielsen-Netratings states, "The easiest |
| goods and services worldwide. In addition, | | | | opportunities are in countries where Internet |
| those computer and Internet users are | | | | usage patterns and user/site relationships |
| increasingly from non-English speaking | | | | are less established. Acquiring users in |
| countries. This figure is constantly rising. | | | | markets that are currently in their growth |
| In response, businesses have quickly become | | | | stages will lead to a loyal user base that |
| aware of the benefits of making their | | | | will pay dividends for Internet companies in |
| websites relevant to the native languages of | | | | the future."- The ability to communicate to a |
| the target audience.Marketing is all about | | | | whole new audience in their own language will |
| speaking the customers' languageThere is no | | | | undoubtedly yield results not only in a |
| denying that the rest of the world outside of | | | | financial sense (cost efficiency) but also in |
| English-speaking countries is coming online | | | | terms of marketing and creating awareness of |
| faster than never before. What is the state | | | | your brand, service or product.- For |
| of affairs, and how does that impact | | | | non-English speaking users looking for your |
| businesses worldwide? How serious is the | | | | product or service, you automatically capture |
| impact of everyone "going global"? And, more | | | | their attention.- A Hindi website shows you |
| importantly, what needs to be done with our | | | | are thinking about the customer. That little |
| Websites to fully take advantage of this wave | | | | extra effort shows you have thought and cared |
| of non-English-speaking people coming | | | | enough about them to offer the website in |
| online?Whether or not a person speaks English | | | | their language.- For many cultures, more so |
| has really nothing to do with the | | | | in India, there is an issue of trust when it |
| responsibility of a Website to communicate in | | | | comes to buying over the Internet, especially |
| the language of the target markets. Indians | | | | if they feel it is in a language they are not |
| read English just fine, and yet they feel | | | | fully proficient in. Offering them a language |
| comfortable to surf in their own language. | | | | alternative allows the customers to feel |
| They live their life in their own language, | | | | secure- Search engines lead people to your |
| not in English. If you want to attract their | | | | site. In countries such as China, Japan and |
| attention, your site has to go where they | | | | France, Google, Yahoo and MSN are not the |
| are, and speak to them in their own | | | | default search engines. Homegrown search |
| language.Outside the seven countries where | | | | engines are emerging and they are proving |
| English is native, and India too, there is no | | | | successful because they work in native |
| form of marketing in any country that happens | | | | languages and are focused on the habits and |
| in English. If someone doesn't believe this, | | | | needs of their users. In addition, many of |
| they should visit Europe, Asia or South | | | | the key search engines, especially Google, |
| America. People live their life in their own | | | | are developing the capacity to run searches |
| language, and your marketing better follow, | | | | in Hindi. Having pages of your site available |
| whether the media is newspaper/magazine ads | | | | in Hindi ensures maximum potential for your |
| articles, radio/TV, billboards... or | | | | site being picked up in searches.Making a |
| Websites.Enter Website TranslationTranslating | | | | website in Hindi or translating the existing |
| a Website is a viable answer because you then | | | | website does not complete the task. There are |
| make an existing website accessible, usable | | | | a lot of important, cultural, ethnic issues |
| and culturally suitable to your specific | | | | which form an essential part of the contents |
| target audience. This requires both | | | | of the website in Hindi. Some examples, which |
| programming expertise and linguistic/cultural | | | | need to be decided upon, in greater details, |
| knowledge.In the majority of cases it is the | | | | are mentioned below:- Images and pictures - |
| lack of linguistic and cultural input that | | | | as they carry subtle cultural intonations in |
| lets a website localization project down. In | | | | them.- Symbols - as with pictures, symbols |
| order to give an insight into the impact | | | | can cause problems. Icons using fingers such |
| culture has on website localization the | | | | as an OK sign or V-sign may mean different |
| following examples depict areas in which a | | | | things to different cultures. Western symbols |
| solid understanding of the target culture is | | | | do not always mean the same abroad.- Colors - |
| necessary.Some very good reasons to translate | | | | they are also loaded with cultural |
| your website into Hindi- One of the official | | | | meanings.- Ease of navigation - Access to |
| languages of India, with a population of over | | | | certain pages is also a factor that can be |
| 1 billion. Hindi has 366 million | | | | considered as relevant.Culture affects |
| first-language speakers; additional 121 | | | | everything we do, say, read, hear and think |
| million second-language speakers. Spoken | | | | and even websites cannot escape the influence |
| throughout northern India: Delhi; Uttar | | | | of culture.The impact of culture on the |
| Pradesh; Rajasthan; Punjab; Madhya Pradesh; | | | | translation of a website is huge. The above |
| northern Bihar; Himachal Pradesh.- Hindi is | | | | few examples are literally the tip of the |
| also spoken in Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, | | | | iceberg.Ostom loves languages and has 20 |
| Germany, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, | | | | years experience of translation. He provides |
| Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, | | | | consultancy to businesses on translation, |
| UAE, United Kingdom, USA, Yemen, and | | | | linguistic brand analysis and other language |
| Zambia.- With the growing numbers of Indans | | | | related services. Ostom also writes on travel |
| buying PC's and Internet access available | | | | and patent related issues.Contact for |
| from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, English speakers | | | | website translation from English into Hindi. |