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