Pseudo Localization

What is Pseudo-Localization?

Pseudo-localization is an effective way to test the localization-readiness of an application.  By pseudo-localizing the resource files, an application can be tested for internationalization without waiting for localization.

Creating pseudo-localized resource files help test for

• embedded strings,
• text that was externalized but should not be,
• text expansion issues,
• character-encoding problems,
• text concatenation issues, and
• UI boundary issues can be identified.

An application typically retrieves strings based on a locale, such as French. A pseudo-locale is like a normal locale, but the strings are not translated, they simply show differently.

Showing i18n Issues with Pseudo-localization

In the example below, the pseudo-locale is 'esperanto' and the English strings have been pseudo-localized. Some issues can be identified when the application is running using the pseudo-locale:

• 1 : Truncation: The end characters have been truncated, indicating a likely UI issues around the space set for the text. The UI may need to be refactored to accommodate for longer text in languages such as German.
• 2 : Mojibake: When the pseudo-localized text is showing as mojibake, such as �, this likely indicates a character encoding or a font issue. The application does not support non ASCII characters or non Latin-1 characters.
• 3 : Embedded String / Hard Code String: If the text shows in the original source locale, here English, as opposed to being pseudo-localized, it indicates a likely hard coded string which has not been externalized into a resource file. That string cannot be sent to translation and will show in the interface as the original source string. This is a common internationalization issue.
• 4: Concatenation: The pseudo-localization shows that two strings have been put together to make up Y-Wing Galactic Fighter, since the end character shows up after Galactic Fighter and a start character shows up before Fighter.

Corrected Version

If the i18n issues above were corrected, running the application using the pseudo-locale would look like the following:

Configuration

Localyzer makes pseudo-localization quite simple: For the resource files in a repository to be pseudo-localized, edit the Locales by clicking the pseudo-locale checkbox and enter the locale to be used as shown below with eo (esperanto):