March 2006

By Huiping Iler

Many companies have regionalized and translated pages on their Web sites to attract and retain global visitors. Just as important as the localized Web content, however, is the user-friendly navigation that directs customers to their preferred language or region.

There are several viable options when creating a navigation path to localized content. One option is a map to select a regional- or country-based site. Or, if your Web site only supports a few localized versions, you may opt to include direct links on the page instead.

A third option is a pull-down menu with a list of available language versions — especially ideal if you have five to 20 localized versions on your site. (If there are more than 20 localized sites, you may want to consider linking a dedicated selection page from the home page.) If you decide on using a pull-down menu, here are some basic tips to follow:

Location, location, location
As with most Web content, location is key in drawing a visitor’s attention. Studies show that in left-to-right scripts, the top right of a page is most visible. Many Web sites recognize this fact and have their navigation tools in this position, further conditioning visitors to look in this area.

“Select Language”
Many pull-down menus have a “Select Language” label to indicate a list. But what about potential clients who may not be fluent in English? You will want to come up with a graphic that is universally understood, such as a globe or a line of characters from multiple languages, to indicate the nature of the menu. Or, use a size attribute instead, listing the first several languages with a scroll bar on the side.

Translation and style
The menu options should be in the target language. For example, if the target language is Spanish, it should read “Español.” Also remember, not all Web users may have the fonts to display the different language scripts listed. For example, a German user may not have fonts to handle Japanese characters, which would display as empty boxes. If you feel this would be uninviting or confusing for visitors, consider following each native script listing with the name or description in the language of the current page. Example: Español (Spanish).

Which language first?
How to order the selection list may be a somewhat arbitrary decision in this process. Alphabetic ordering does not apply when using multiple scripts, and even if all the language versions use Latin-based text, alphabetic order can vary from language to language. You can put the list in order by the number of visitors from a language (i.e. if most of your global clients are Chinese, list Chinese first); or by geographic order (North/South America, Europe, Africa, etc.).

Keeping the user in mind
As with all aspects of localized content navigation, you need to consider what is most user-friendly for your customers. Keep in mind what are common practices on other global Web sites (such as the upper-right position of navigation tools on a page) — familiar formats enhance a site’s ease of use.

A well translated, localized site is less effective without an intuitive navigation path. Following these tips will help guide your clients in the right direction.

  CHINESE TABLE MANNERS – INDIVIDUAL AND SHARE DISHES

By Yi Zhang

Table manners are drastically different between East and West. Last week, I invited my co-workers Sandra (an Italian girl) and Felicia (a Romanian girl) to have lunch at my parents’ place. They were excited about having a taste of authentic Chinese dishes cooked by my dad. While at the dinner table, I observed something interesting – that is, how Sandra and Felicia helped themselves with the food on the table.

In West, people pass around shared dishes at the dinner table and help themselves with the food they like. They however do not usually lift or move their individual plates or bowls while eating. The Chinese way is the opposite. One is supposed to pick up his or her individual bowl (not plate though) while eating. If there is a shared dish that one cannot reach, one passes his or her individual bowl to someone who has the dish close and has that person help fill the bowl. Shared dishes are however seldom moved or lifted at a Chinese dinner table.

Also, traditional Chinese dinner tables are round to ensure equal distance from each seat to the center. For a table that has more than 6 seats, there is usually a smaller turning table in the middle that could spin around so shared dishes could be easily reached from every seat.

If you are having Chinese next time, do not hesitate to pick up your bowl. It is not bad manner. It is appropriate!

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