ANN: Webinar on Writing for Translation on Thur Jan 31st

[Maxwell Hoffmann]

How to Write for Translation: The 1% Solution 
Presented by John M. Smart, President of SMART Communications, Inc. 
Thursday, January 31st, 2008 -- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Pacific Standard Time - 
Online - Cost: Complimentary

Summary

Part of ENLASO's educational Webinar series, How to Write for Translation: The 1% Solution features John Smart, President of SMART Communications. This complimentary Webinar is of particular interest to technical writers, translation and localization managers, customer service managers, project managers, globalization teams and global marketing professionals.

According to Oxford University, the English language in 2007 has 900,000 words and growing daily. This growth poses a problem in translation. The solution is Controlled English.

A controlled language approach controls the design of the English text for two types of users: persons who read translations of English and persons who use English as a second language.

While legal need for translations increases, English is quickly becoming the lingua franca of globalization. To non-English speakers, English is a complex language that is difficult to read, write, and understand. The use of Controlled English which uses 1% of the English language offers a cost-effective and viable solution. Well-written Controlled English removes the ambiguity, passive voice, gerunds and other constructions that cause comprehension problems. Controlled English offers cost savings in translations through a reduction in the amount of words. 

Another advantage is in the avoidance of litigation caused by Product Liability caused by foggy technical documentation. All training manuals, user guides and maintenance manuals can benefit from clear, concise English. What this session will cover:

1. The history and background information about Controlled English, 1930 to 2007. 
2. How the "1% solution" impacts translations. 
3. How a company and its customers can benefit from Controlled English. 
4. How to avoid the 21 most common errors in documentation. 
5. How global leaders like GE use Six Sigma metrics for documentation quality. 
6. A case study of how Cross Match Technologies implemented Controlled English User Guides for their new line of exotic fingerprint devices found at most airports. 
7. Demonstration of Controlled English checker tool and a live-rewrite. 
8. A thought-provoking dissection of texts written for the translation of NCR Corporation software documentation to support ATM banking machines globally. 
9. A controlled language approach controls the design of the English text for two types of users: persons who read translations of English and persons who use English as a second language. 

About the presenter:

Mr. Smart has more than 18 years of experience in language simplification and linguistic software development. His firm has successfully applied Controlled English to many products and services ranging from huge 40-ton Liebherr mining trucks, Airbus A380 to exotic software for tiny IBM RFID chips. Mr. Smart received his undergraduate degree in Sydney, Australia and holds degrees in the publishing and computer science from the Rochester Institute of Technology, NY.

To register,look for the seminar description and registration link in the right hand column of the web page at www.translate.com 


Maxwell Hoffmann
A.C.E., Adobe Community Expert, FrameMaker
Manager of Consulting & Training Solutions
ENLASO Corporation
T: 805 494 9571 * F: 805 435 1920
E: mhoffmann at translate.com ♦ ENLASO Corporation provides quality enterprise language solutions and exceeds client expectations through continuing research, development, and implementation of effective localization processes and technologies.  Visit: www.translate.com for more information or to subscribe to our complimentary localization newsletter. 
http://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellhoffmann