Planet Web I18n

Meet the next generation of country codes

2009-11-08T17:23:28+00:00

So now that the media hype over internationalized domain names (IDNs) has died down, let’s focus on the messy details of what this all means.

First of all, we’re not about to see the non-Latin equivalent of .com anytime soon. Certainly not next year. There are several reason for this which I will cover in a later post.

What we should see next year are the non-Latin equivalents of country code top-level domains, such as .ru, .cn, .sa. It just so happens that I’ve got a handy map of all ccTLDs here.

Not all ccTLDs will be eligible for a “fast track” ccTLD, just those from countries that have official non-Latin languages.

The two largest countries I would expect to launch IDNs in 2010 are China and Russia.

China has had its IDN ready to go for some time now; the traditional Chinese character version is shown above. The simplified character version is below. The assumption is that both versions will be bundled together.

Below is a screen grab from China’s government web site. Perhaps in 2010 we’ll see “GOV.cn” replaced.

Russia will likely be using this IDN next year:

This IDN is short for “Russian Federation.” Why not just use the equivalent of .RU, you ask? Well, that would give us .ру, which looks entirely too similar to .py (Paraguay).

So there you have it — IDNs for China and Russia, with many more to follow.

A12n: RT @maneno: More about Conrad's African language publishing session and a paper he wrote http://j.mp/49mqgF #bcafricauk09 #L10n #A12n

2009-11-08T06:58:23+00:00

A12n: RT @maneno: More about Conrad's African language publishing session and a paper he wrote http://j.mp/49mqgF #bcafricauk09 #L10n #A12n

A12n: RT @kamusi: #Firefox in 10 African languages, including #Swahili http://bit.ly/2RlkbM #ANLoc #L10n #A12n

2009-11-05T16:57:36+00:00

A12n: RT @kamusi: #Firefox in 10 African languages, including #Swahili http://bit.ly/2RlkbM #ANLoc #L10n #A12n

A12n: RT @newtagdefs: #ANLoc: African Network for Localisation - network of people & organisations around Africa focused .. African languages..

2009-11-05T16:53:08+00:00

A12n: RT @newtagdefs: #ANLoc: African Network for Localisation - network of people & organisations around Africa focused .. African languages..

A12n: RT @kamusi Podcast interview of M. Benjamin & K. Scannell on localization & Central/ East African #languages http://bit.ly/OMWki #L10n #A12n

2009-11-05T16:39:39+00:00

A12n: RT @kamusi Podcast interview of M. Benjamin & K. Scannell on localization & Central/ East African #languages http://bit.ly/OMWki #L10n #A12n

A12n: RT @dwaynebailey: Pootle 1.3 beta4 demo http://bit.ly/zj1RO #l10n #ANLoc

2009-11-05T16:37:30+00:00

A12n: RT @dwaynebailey: Pootle 1.3 beta4 demo http://bit.ly/zj1RO #l10n #ANLoc

WaSP_ILG: Further decline for ActiveX in Korea + rise of web standards http://bit.ly/1RUDox / http://tr.im/Edmr (Eng)? Background at http://tr.im/EdmR

2009-11-05T12:08:53+00:00

WaSP_ILG: Further decline for ActiveX in Korea + rise of web standards http://bit.ly/1RUDox / http://tr.im/Edmr (Eng)? Background at http://tr.im/EdmR

The IDN media deluge begins

2009-11-02T16:28:47+00:00

ICANN has been talking about IDNs for years. For that matter, so have I.

So I half-expected a “boy that cried wolf” scenario to play out when ICANN finally did approve IDNs.

That is, ICANN would say “IDNs are coming!” and the media would collectively yawn.

But that’s not what happened.

IDNs have received a media blitz over the past week. Separate articles have appeared in:

This is a welcome sign for anyone who has to educate co-workers and, more important, upper management to the importance of supporting a truly multilingual Internet.

Granted, it remains to be seen if the intended users of IDNs actually want to use them.

I’m betting they do.

We’ll know much more a year from now.

Strange Maps: The Book

2009-10-31T16:02:14+00:00

If you like maps and you haven’t yet discovered the Strange Map blog, I recommend checking it out.

It’s oddly addictive.

Now there’s a print version — Strange Maps: An Atlas of Cartographic Curiosities.

Included within the book is our very own Country Codes of the World map.

I received a copy this week and plan to dive in this weekend. It’s a big book — with more than a hundred maps. One map that jumped out at me was of the Kentucky Bend — a bulbous little chunk of land carved by the Mississippi river and the New Madrid earthquake.

WaSP_ILG: We now have a Twitter list for our ILG network. Let me know if there's someone missing who should be there http://twitter.com/iheni/wasp-ilg

2009-10-30T09:35:29+00:00

WaSP_ILG: We now have a Twitter list for our ILG network. Let me know if there's someone missing who should be there http://twitter.com/iheni/wasp-ilg

WaSP_ILG: Great news: domain names could be internationalised by 2010 http://tr.im/Dy4e something first proposed by ICANN in 2007 http://tr.im/Dy4k

2009-10-30T08:39:56+00:00

WaSP_ILG: Great news: domain names could be internationalised by 2010 http://tr.im/Dy4e something first proposed by ICANN in 2007 http://tr.im/Dy4k

multilingualmag: RT @MIIS_CACS: November 7th is Visit Day at the Monterey Institute! - http://www.miis.edu #translation #localization #interpretation

2009-10-29T21:16:04+00:00

multilingualmag: RT @MIIS_CACS: November 7th is Visit Day at the Monterey Institute! - http://www.miis.edu #translation #localization #interpretation

multilingualmag: RT @TranslateThis: #ATA50 Is this the conference motto, I wonder? http://pic.gd/b4c4a9 #translation #localization

2009-10-29T19:48:54+00:00

multilingualmag: RT @TranslateThis: #ATA50 Is this the conference motto, I wonder? http://pic.gd/b4c4a9 #translation #localization

multilingualmag: RT @CSA_Research: Publishing report on European Market for Language Services. Take survey and receive copy of results. http://bit.ly/4dSkCt

2009-10-29T19:24:36+00:00

multilingualmag: RT @CSA_Research: Publishing report on European Market for Language Services. Take survey and receive copy of results. http://bit.ly/4dSkCt

multilingualmag: @skobalczyk - Our website and magazine might provide some insight- http://www.multilingual.com #localization

2009-10-29T19:00:52+00:00

multilingualmag: @skobalczyk - Our website and magazine might provide some insight- http://www.multilingual.com #localization

WaSP_ILG: WCAG 2.0 now translated into German Richtlinien für barrierefreie Webinhalte (WCAG) 2.0 http://tr.im/DtKy Full list at http://tr.im/DtKP

2009-10-29T16:27:48+00:00

WaSP_ILG: WCAG 2.0 now translated into German Richtlinien für barrierefreie Webinhalte (WCAG) 2.0 http://tr.im/DtKy Full list at http://tr.im/DtKP

WaSP_ILG: CSS Nuggets http://tr.im/DjOi by @anna_debenham translated into Chinese CSS金矿 http://tr.im/DjNE - excellent presentation, spread the word.

2009-10-28T08:42:48+00:00

WaSP_ILG: CSS Nuggets http://tr.im/DjOi by @anna_debenham translated into Chinese CSS金矿 http://tr.im/DjNE - excellent presentation, spread the word.

A12n: @sociolingo Thx for the links. #Microsoft #Africa head, Dr. C.M. Diarra, has indicated interest in #L10n ("LIPs"). S.A. release didn't have?

2009-10-26T20:54:21+00:00

A12n: @sociolingo Thx for the links. #Microsoft #Africa head, Dr. C.M. Diarra, has indicated interest in #L10n ("LIPs"). S.A. release didn't have?

A12n: @sociolingo Another question- is #Windows 7 as introduced in multilingual #SouthAfrica English-only or localized in other #languages ? #L10n

2009-10-26T20:21:44+00:00

A12n: @sociolingo Another question- is #Windows 7 as introduced in multilingual #SouthAfrica English-only or localized in other #languages ? #L10n

A12n: RT @sociolingo: New Blog Post Is #Windows 7 any good for Africa?: Windows 7 has been launched in South Africa, .. http://bit.ly/ZSk6w #L10n

2009-10-26T20:19:33+00:00

A12n: RT @sociolingo: New Blog Post Is #Windows 7 any good for Africa?: Windows 7 has been launched in South Africa, .. http://bit.ly/ZSk6w #L10n

IDNs coming in 2010. Really.

2009-10-26T14:31:20+00:00

It’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day when I read these “IDNs are coming” articles.

Here’s one I read this morning about ICANN’s meeting in Seoul, happening now, where the powers that be are expected to approve “fast track” IDNs.

The article notes:

“This is the biggest change technically to the Internet since it was invented 40 years ago,” Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, told reporters, calling it a “fantastically complicated technical feature.” He said he expects the board to grant approval on Friday, the conference’s final day.

Okay, so Friday is the day.

Now when will IDNs enter the real world (aside from China, where they have been in the real world for years now):

Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s new president and CEO, said that if the change is approved, ICANN would begin accepting applications for non-English domain names and that the first entries into the system would likely come sometime in mid 2010.

Wait a second. Weren’t IDNs supposed to be launched this year? Or 2007?

I shouldn’t make a big deal about this. IDNs are not trivial. The smart folks in the IETF have been working extra hard to finalize the new tech standard. The security risks are real and tests needed to be conducted over the past year before moving ahead. The logistics of managing the rollout among the world’s registries is significant. And let’s not get started on how IDNs will impact applications and the companies who support them.

IDNs are happening though. As they should.

Of the 1.6 billion Internet users worldwide, Beckstrom — a former chief of U.S. cybersecurity — said that more than half use languages that have scripts based on alphabets other than Latin.

“So this change is very much necessary for not only half the world’s Internet users today, but more than half of probably the future users as the use of the Internet continues to spread,” he said.

By the way, ICANN has a new Web design. I like it.

PS: Here’s a great op-ed on IDNs and how far they have yet to go…

A12n: Recently RT'd tweets from: @Tavultesoft @DwayneBailey @SabineEller @kasahorow @localization @twanguages @manal @kvashee @whiteafrican #ff

2009-10-23T23:39:50+00:00

A12n: Recently RT'd tweets from: @Tavultesoft @DwayneBailey @SabineEller @kasahorow @localization @twanguages @manal @kvashee @whiteafrican #ff

A12n: @localization @SabineEller Thanks for following! #ff

2009-10-23T19:43:28+00:00

A12n: @localization @SabineEller Thanks for following! #ff

Unicode Collation Algorithm Version 5.2 Released

2009-10-23T17:52:22+00:00

Version 5.2 of the Unicode Collation Algorithm has been released. This version resynchronizes the Unicode Collation Algorithm with all of the updates for the Unicode Standard, Version 5.2.

The rest of this post is taken from the Unicode Consortium's release notification and details changes and issues for implementations.

The text of UTS #10 has been updated. Among other changes, the revised text for UTS #10 makes it clear that the BASE for implicit generation of weights for Han characters does not include unassigned code points.
There are small changes in Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam (including weighting for chillus), Tamil, and Sinhala. While these changes move in the direction of expected behavior, good results will only come from tailoring for particular languages, such as with CLDR.
There have been significant changes to the ordering of many combining marks. Many combining marks that are not in customary use in modern languages now have the same secondary weight, and will only be distinguished on a fourth level, by code point ordering. This can be seen by looking at the Unicode Collation Charts (http://unicode.org/charts/collation/). In 5.2, many characters now have a white background, indicating that they sort exactly the same as the previous character, unless a 4th (codepoint) level is used.
Implementations of UCA should take note that the increased number of characters may cause overflows if the implementing code makes certain assumptions or optimizations. This can result either from the new character additions (which increase the number of distinct weights in the table) or because of changes in the way the weights, particularly for secondary weight values, are assigned in the table. The latter change may result in unexpected numbers of characters having the same weight.

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated Harari keyboards at http://keymankeyboards.com/harari ...a language of North Africa #a12n #harari #i18n #Ethiopia

2009-10-23T05:36:21+00:00

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated Harari keyboards at http://keymankeyboards.com/harari ...a language of North Africa #a12n #harari #i18n #Ethiopia

A12n: RT @dwaynebailey: #ANLoc taking #Firefox from 1 to 10 African languages. Background on who, why, when & how http://bit.ly/2RlkbM #l10n #A12n

2009-10-21T16:54:26+00:00

A12n: RT @dwaynebailey: #ANLoc taking #Firefox from 1 to 10 African languages. Background on who, why, when & how http://bit.ly/2RlkbM #l10n #A12n

Firefox in 10 African language

2009-10-21T13:43:09+00:00

Yes 10 African languages for Firefox. Officially there is 1 (one) African language (Afrikaans) in Firefox, not counting languages of wider communication like English, French, Portuguese and Arabic. ANLoc (The African Network for Localisation) is trying to change that literally from A-Z, Akan to Zulu. With of course Northern Sotho, Shona, Krio, Wolof, Songhai, Swahili, Lingala and Luganda in between.

ANLoc is working through the following process to try to create the skills and support needed to get more Africans localising Firefox:

We asked Africans to submit a proposal on why we should support their language team. We selected the 10 best proposals from those that we received.
A tech team was created with people skilled in development and localisation. The idea is for this group to support less skilled localisation teams and also to grow the skills within this group. The tech team is spread across Africa. They are doing things like managing files, building language packs, helping give input to localisers and in the longer term helping the new teams interface with Mozilla so that they can grow their own wings and fly.
Hosting the teams on Pootle a web server for managing software localisation. We've put all the localisation files on Pootle to help track progress and assist teams that are less technical. Those with bad connectivity, a common issue in Africa, can download the files, translate offline and then submit their work through Pootle.
Working with the teams to help promote their work in the own country.

Why Firefox? It's a widely known product, it's used by end-users (the people who need local language) and it's a product produced by an organisation that is passionate about championing the open web. Mozilla has done more for the WWW then most, ANLoc is standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you Mozilla.

How can I help? Here are a few ideas:

Download and test a language pack, especially if you speak one of the 10 languages.
Speak French? You can really help some of the localisers who are from French speaking Africa trying to localise into their own language
Tell others about this effort, especially if you have some connection to the language listed. You are in the diaspora, you speak the langauge, you come form a country that speaks the language.

ANLoc is a network of passionate language experts funded by the International Development Research Centre.

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated keyboard help for Dizi, Me’en, Mursi and Suri of #Ethiopia now online at http://bit.ly/2PZnEP #i18n #L10n

2009-10-21T04:34:12+00:00

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated keyboard help for Dizi, Me’en, Mursi and Suri of #Ethiopia now online at http://bit.ly/2PZnEP #i18n #L10n

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated GFF keyboard help for #Blin (Bilen/Bilin) language of #Eritrea is now online at http://bit.ly/20vmaP #i18n #L10n

2009-10-21T04:33:45+00:00

A12n: RT @Tavultesoft: Updated GFF keyboard help for #Blin (Bilen/Bilin) language of #Eritrea is now online at http://bit.ly/20vmaP #i18n #L10n

A12n: RT @SabineEller: Keyboard layout for combining diacritics -we need the same for Win: http://ow.ly/vuyy can you help w/ link/contact/forward?

2009-10-20T18:09:17+00:00

A12n: RT @SabineEller: Keyboard layout for combining diacritics -we need the same for Win: http://ow.ly/vuyy can you help w/ link/contact/forward?