Basque Internationalization

Basque Internationalization (I18n) can be defined as the process of enabling back-end technologies to function or support the Basque language. Localization, on the other hand, deals primarily with the front-end or linguistic and cosmetic aspects of a Basque-language software application or Web site, including locale-specific content, cultural correctness, translations, and design.

Some of the reasons for internationalizing are to ensure your Basque-language application or Web site:

• Sorts based on Basque language rules;
• Allows the externalization of all translatable text strings (i.e., separating text from code);
• Handles the different address, time, date, and numerical formats used in Basque.

The process of Basque internationalization may include the following four steps:

1. Discovery - Includes the preparation of a Basque internationalization kit and an analysis of the current internationalization readiness of the source Web site or software application.
2. Assessment - Includes review and analysis of the following:
• Source architecture and source code of Web site or software application.
• Global marketing plans and requirements.
• Design, development and build processes.
• Current I18N and localization strategies.
3. Implementation - Includes the following:
• Externalizing text strings for ease of localization.
• Resolving any currency, time, date, or numbers issues.
• If necessary, enabling double-byte characters or bidirectional writing.
• Creating an I18n-friendly build methodology.
• Preparing an I18n test plan.
• Preparing a localization kit.
• Carrying out training on I18n.
• Introduction of I18n tools and any required tool training.
4. Testing - Includes client-driven I18n and DBCS-enablement testing, bug reporting/fixing and regression testing.