Reference · A–Z
Terms From the Test Floor
The vocabulary producers, translators and testers use when they talk about localized builds, defined in plain English.
B
- Back-translation
- A literal English rendering of a target-language string, added to bug reports so non-speakers can judge the problem.
- Bidi (bidirectional text)
- Text mixing right-to-left scripts such as Arabic or Hebrew with left-to-right content like numbers or Latin names, governed by Unicode UAX #9.
C
- CAT tool
- Computer-assisted translation software that manages translation memory and termbases, such as memoQ, Trados or Phrase.
- CLDR
- The Unicode Common Locale Data Repository: the reference for plural rules, date and number formats per locale.
- Context screenshot
- An image supplied to translators showing where a string appears; the cheapest way to prevent mistranslation.
- Culturalization
- Reviewing and adapting content, imagery and assumptions so they are appropriate for a target culture.
F
- Font fallback
- A secondary font used when the main one lacks a glyph; poor fallback shows as empty boxes, often called "tofu".
- Functional localization testing
- Checking locale-dependent behaviour: formats, input methods, sorting, layout direction and audio switching.
H
- Hardcoded string
- Text embedded directly in code or art instead of a translatable resource file, so it cannot be localized.
- Honorific
- Grammatical or lexical markers of respect, such as Japanese keigo or Korean speech levels.
I
- i18n (internationalization)
- Engineering a game so it can be localized: externalised strings, Unicode support, flexible layouts.
- ICU MessageFormat
- A syntax for messages with plural, gender and select variants.
- IME
- Input method editor, used to type Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters; name-entry screens must support it.
L
- l10n (localization)
- Adapting a product for a specific language and market.
- Loc kit
- The package handed to translators and testers: strings, glossary, style guides, references and builds.
- Lotcheck
- Nintendo's certification process for software released on its platforms.
- LQA
- Linguistic quality assurance: native-speaker testing of translated text in the running game.
M
- MQM
- Multidimensional Quality Metrics, a framework for classifying and scoring translation errors.
P
- Placeholder (variable)
- A token such as {0} or %s replaced at runtime by a name, number or item.
- Pseudo-localization
- Replacing source text with expanded, accented dummy text to find layout and hardcoding problems before translation.
R
- Regression
- Re-testing after fixes to confirm they worked and broke nothing else.
- Register
- The level of formality in speech, from intimate to ceremonial.
S
- Severity
- The impact rating of a bug, commonly critical, major, minor or preferential.
- Sim-ship
- Simultaneous shipment of all language versions on the same release date.
- String freeze
- The point after which source text stops changing except through tracked requests.
- String ID
- The unique key identifying a text resource, essential in every bug report.
T
- Termbase / glossary
- The approved list of key terms and their translations per language.
- TM (translation memory)
- A database of previously translated segments reused for consistency.
- TRC
- Technical Requirements Checklist, Sony's certification requirements for PlayStation titles.
- Truncation
- Text cut off because it exceeds its container.
X
- XLIFF
- XML Localization Interchange File Format, the standard exchange format for translatable content.