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