1 Bilingual Web Design Matt Mac Cárthaigh Fios Feasa

2 Bilingual Web Design 1. Good design and bilingual websites 2. How to structure the site 3. Switching languages in the middle

3 Good Design Good design is suitable for the target It is not designed to suit the designer It is directed at the user / the customer In the case of bilingualism, directed at two groups, differentiated by language Bilingual web design is an effort to serve the linguistic needs and preferences of customers This is especially important for minority languages, where it is an equality issue Yish: large strong languages like English Xish: minority or marginalised or threatened like Irish

4 Bilingual Design Provide the text to the user in the user’s choice of language Irish speakers should see text in Irish, English speakers in English, Lakhota speakers in Lakhota To do this effectively, the two languages need to be separated Mixing the languages on one page is confusing and serves neither group’s interests Two languages on one page halves the space available for content There are other linguistically defined groups who may be customers, and who may need a different approach: Language learners Foreigners with an interest in language Non-speakers connected to a language (parents of Gaelscoil students)

5 Ways to Separate Languages: 1. Mixed Text This approach is generally deprecated The Xish text is in the way of Yish speakers, and confusing for them, as they don’t understand it The Yish text interferes with (bilingual) Xish speakers’ use of their own language Using colour, font, italics, or positioning to separate languages inevitably creates inequality This approach is sometimes used for idelogical reasons: “By God, they’re gonna see it in Irish whether they like it or not”. Good design is aimed at serving customers, not controlling them Examples: PanuNet Áras Chrónáin Scoileanna Kaia Puni

6 Ways to Separate Languages: 2. Parallel Text This approach is somewhat more satisfactory: the two languages are clearly separated But they are still on one page, with associated disadvantages This approach can be suitable in certain cases: When there is very little content When language learners are the users When the language itself is the subject matter Examples: Lakhota Language Consortium Scéalta Karuk Kualono

7 Ways to Separate Languages: 3. Two “Subsites” The most common approach on small sites In the absence of large resources, the most satisfactory approach Structured around two “subsites”, mirroring each other A “splash screen” at the beginning gives users a language choice (and maybe an intro to the topic or owner, but nothing else) There is a facility on each page to switch to the other language Examples: Bratacha na hÉireann Bons Matins Cwmni Iaith Māori Language Commission Māori Language Commission FCJ Sisters Bella Umbria IBIS

8 Ways to Separate Languages: 4. Two Sites In this approach, there are two whole sites paralleling each other The biggest difference is that there are two URLs This improves equality, as even the URL is in the user’s choice of language It also obviates explicit language choice: users who select an Xish URL get content in Xish automatically Disadvantage: It is more costly and difficult to maintain two mirrored sites with identical content Examples: Welsh Joint Education Committee: / Welsh Land Registry: /

9 Ways to Separate Languages : 5. Sites Based on a Database In this approach, the actual web pages are created dynamically They are based on a database, and it’s the database, not the website, which is maintained It is easier to manage data with a database, and to guarantee that content is updated in both languages at the same time Such web pages are usually recognisable by the URL, which has stuff in it like “.asp” or “.jsp” or “?lang=ga” Disadvantage: This is even more high-end than mirrored websites, and requires higher skill and resource levels Examples: Comhairle Chontae Phort Láirge Dell Rialtas na hEilbhéise Eleka Rialtas na Beilge

10 Switching Languages In a bilingual or multilingual site, there should be a facility to switch languages (after the initial choice) That facility should have the following properties: It should be on every page It should always be in the same place on the page It should be by itself, separated from the content menu National flags should not be used (the user is choosing a language, not a country or a state) If users switch languages, they shouldn’t be forced to switch content: they should end up looking at the same page in the other language, not the home page Examples: Béaloideas Éireann Eleka Embassy of Ireland in Berlin Egan’s House Hotel

11 Conclusion Making your website bilingual is all about serving your customers’ needs and preferences. In the case of a language like Irish, it’s an equality issue. There are various ways to separate out the languages; which one is best for you depends on your customers and your resources. Be sure to include a way to switch languages as well as a way to choose one. After being so careful to design the website appropriately, be sure to keep it that way.