Localizing Windows Phone apps: New terminology and Style Guides posted

Another 15 localization style guides for developing international Windows Phone apps have just been made available by the Windows Phone team.

Style guides provide instructions to help ensure that your app speaks to the user in the same tone, style and level of formality as Windows Phone itself. For example, should you say please or address the user as you and what level of formality is appropriate; should you use Sie or du in German? And how do you abbreviate words for a smartphone screen?

Translations of the individual terms and phrases, such as live tile, hub, pinch or stretch are also available through the Microsoft Language Portal online search.

The 15 new languages follow the style guides already posted for UK English, German, Italian, Spanish and French, bringing the total number to 20:

Here are a few examples from the guides of things to know about international style, tone and terminology:

  • UK English: Airplane mode is called Flight mode in UK English.
  • Danish: Enthusiastic expressions like Aha! and Oops! should be toned down since the Danish culture is more restrained.
  • Korean: It is recommended that the word you referring to end users be omitted in the Korean translation.

For more in-depth reference material about globalization and building localized apps for Windows Phone, visit the Globalization and Localization for Windows Phone pages on MSDN.

logo_wp75-h_page_thumb1