The 5 Laws of Localization and my L10n Mantra

1st LAW OF LOCALIZATION: The PM is your friend and, as friends do, she will stab you in the back
2nd LAW OF LOCALIZATION: Be consistent in your inconsistency   

3rd LAW OF LOCALIZATION: Be consistent in your errors...

4th LAW OF LOCALIZATION: Dew knot trussed yore spell checker

5th LAW OF LOCALIZATION: The Client Reviewer is always (best) left (alone), even if is s/he is wrong

6th LAW OF LOCALIZATION: If the translation is crap, blame it on the lack of glossary and style guide and charge the client for creating them

LOCALIZATION MANTRA
A) If an error is repeated more than 2 times, it becomes acceptable; 
B) If an error makes it to the next version in the TM, it becomes a law; and 
C) If an error makes it to the glossary, it becomes a constitutional right...    

The "Same length as English, please" Fallacy

Ever heard that? "Please keep same length as English, please". Well, mmm... Maybe not... Put those words together with “display real estate” and you are heading for localization trouble...

Just an image...

We now that all those cool UX designers are just trying to do their job and, once they do it, they will throw it over the fence and it will eventually "get translated". However, many companies have already learnt the hard way what happens if you do not plan these things in advance...

Translators are also trying to do their job. However, having to abbreviate, leave out articles and prepositions, and churn out SMS-style gibberish does not help.

Let's do everyone involved a favour and let's work together. At the end of the day we are all in the same team... Aren't we?

PS: You can also read The Economist's article SURPRISE Lost (or gained) in translation.