Translation is an important aspect of any technology, manufacturing, or producing company. A technical writer plays a pivotal role in ensuring user manuals, documentation, and tutorials align with languages understood by targeted users.
How Targeted Is It?
To some extent, companies overlook a particular market and contact traditional translators to conduct regular translations. For instance, Chinese products have access to many markets across different continents, but the user manuals or documentation are written in Chinese and English or entirely in Chinese.
It may be a good strategy to focus on 'home' customers, but reaching a broader scope of customers will increase the revenue collection by incorporating regional block languages. Although illustrations help the user understand product functionalities, the manuals are not entirely 'user' friendly.
My Point
Companies should conduct more research on languages spoken by nations in a regional block apart from English. As a user, I enjoy reading text written in my local language. It may be a strategic way of retaining a customer.
I know it may not be logical to incorporate different languages in documentation, tutorials, and user manuals. Still, Netflix has included at least five significant subtitles for its movies. The Swahili language is now among Netflix subtitles collections.
What if...
Manufacturers or producers could research a common spoken regional language and incorporate it into their user guides. For instance, the Swahili language is spoken by east and central African nations. Perhaps adding Swahili to user guides will attract more customers indirectly or directly.
Conclusion
Language is essential in communicating an intended message and can act as an attraction. Businesses should acknowledge these dynamics and changes to have a competitive edge.
Am I making sense? Leave a comment.
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