Understanding Linguistic Testing End to End
Irfan Ahmad & Rajini Padmanaban
QA InfoTech
Language errors in a localized product may often seem negligible, but can often lead to large adverse outcomes. Let’s consider a scenario where a developer has inadvertently, added the string for delete in the place of the string for save. The product is released without being tested by a certified linguist. Users will end up deleting their actions instead of saving them. Similarly, what if a non-technical translator misunderstood the CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) to a cat (animal); what if an XD designer designed an excellent icon for a software feature but is one that hurts the religious sentiment of a particular market; what would be the subscription expiry date in a subscription model – 365 days per the Gregorian calendar or 355 days per the Lunar calendar? Who will catch all these overt and covert issues?
Based on personal experience as a linguistic tester, Rajini and Irfan’s presentation will decode the complex environment of linguistic testing, the flaws, the best practices and parameters. It will also discuss how companies can optimize the process across the development cycle while maintaining highest total quality standards.
Key Takeaways:
- Add the capability of soft power but with extreme care
- There’s a thin line between localization and linguistic testing – let’s understand this in greater detail
- What to include in a linguistic test effort and why this is becoming increasingly important
About Me!
Irfan Ahmad is a software QA engineer well versed in linguistic elements of product design, implementation and testing. He specializes in complex scripts (text), such as RTL (Right-To-Left), CJK and Indic languages that are widely used in MENA (Middle East & North Africa) and South East Asian Markets. He has successfully helped large ISVs such as Adobe localize some of their flagship products including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, FrameMaker, Pvx and Adobe Presenter in MENA and South Asian markets. He has an M.Phil degree in software localization and an on-going PhD in digital culture from JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University), New Delhi, one of India’s premier institute for languages, culture, humanities and social sciences. He recently spoke at the United Nation’s general assembly presenting to world leaders on localization of technologies and promotion of multilingualism and multiculturalism and how these together will help UN achieve millennium sustainable development goals. He is the author – researcher and co-inventor of a software patent.
As Sr. Director of Engagement, Rajini Padmanaban leads the engagement management for some of QA InfoTech’s largest and most strategic accounts. She has over fourteen years of professional experience, primarily in software quality assurance. Rajini advocates software quality through evangelistic activities including blogging on test trends, technologies and best practices. She is also a regular speaker in conferences run by SQE, QAI STC, UNICOM, EuroStar and has spoken at several webinars. Her writings are featured in TechWell, Sticky Minds, Better Software Magazine. She has co-authored a book on crowdsourced testing, and was most recently nominated for the Testing Leader of the Year award, by UNICOM. She can be reached at[email protected]