What is pseudolocalization?

Imagine this: you’ve given your translation team the “go” on a website or software localization project.

Would you rather they wait until completion to see if the localization was a success? Or would you prefer they get a “sneak peek” to see how the translated text appears on the page or in the app?

Easy answer. Right?

This is where the power of pseudolocalization comes in: the process of running tests to determine if a specific language is displayed correctly within a localization project during the software or website development process by mechanically replacing all localizable elements with a pseudo-language that is readable by speakers of the source language.

German, for example, can lengthen character count by as much as 50 percent compared to English. French and Spanish can expand English character count translations by as much as 30 percent. Non-translatable elements within software, such as symbols and notations, need to be found early on. You can see the issues.

With pseudolocalization, translation experts can simulate website and software localization projects at particular intervals to ensure that translated text fits the page or app in the expected amount of space. Hint: no surprises!

Common issues pseudolocalization can address

So, what kind of language-related bugs can pseudolocalization help catch? Here are a few examples of what this process can accomplish:

• Identifies text overflow and improper text-wrapping
• Detects layout inconsistencies
• Highlights issues with hardcoded strings
• Uncovers missing resource files
• Tests user interface handling of right-to-left languages
• Reveals problems with special characters

Addressing these issues early in development ensures a smoother localization experience and improves the software’s usability across different languages and regions.

Why is pseudolocalization important?

Pseudolocalization is considered an engineering or internationalization tool more than a localization one but is vital to the long-term success of localization initiatives, especially those with the scope and budgets of websites and software applications.

Here are a few ways pseudolocalization can improve the process and outcomes of software and website localization.

Efficient resource allocation

By identifying localization issues early, pseudolocalization helps in planning and allocating resources more effectively. It ensures that both development and localization teams know potential challenges and can address them proactively, streamlining the QA workflow and avoiding last-minute fixes.

Cost savings

Pseudolocalization can lead to significant cost savings by mitigating risks and addressing potential problems early in the development process. Fewer revisions mean lower translation costs and a more efficient use of time and resources.

Without pseudo-localization, translation experts need to fix problems “post-development.” And if you’re translating a project into multiple languages, these post-development problems add up in time and money.

Improved user experience

Ultimately, pseudolocalization contributes to a higher-quality end product. Ensuring that the software functions correctly and looks good in all target languages enhances the user experience for international audiences, leading to greater satisfaction and adoption.

Quality assurance at every step

Professional translation teams welcome pseudolocalization with open arms because they understand how it prevents headaches, accelerates timelines, and ensures successful localization. If you need a translation team to tackle a website or software localization project (or 20), look no further than Acclaro. Our team is ready to help.