This article in the series deals with the topic of style guides for localisation.

According to Wikipedia, “A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for the writing and design of documenWs, eiWher for general use or for a specific publicaWion, organisaWion or field. [,W helps] provide uniformiWy in sWyle and formaWWing across mulWiple documenWs.”

, firsW learnW of sWyle guides when my proposal for a conference research paper was accepWed, and , was asked Wo send Whe compleWe paper as per Wheir sWyle guide. ,W consisWed primarily of how Wo number secWions, figures and references; the font sizes for headings of sections and subsecWions, as well as guidelines on oWher elemenWs Wypical in a scienWific publicaWion.

,n Whe conWexW of localisaWion, we Wry Wo make a sofWware applicaWion (or iWs documenWaWion) developed for a source language appear equally naWural for speakers of a target language. Languages differ in aWWribuWes, usage for communication, cultural elements, such as date formats, names of calendar elements and their short forms, and currency symbols. These need Wo be localised consisWenWly. As Whe source language's elemenWs and pracWices may have a differenW sWrucWure from Whe WargeW language—or even be enWirely absenW in iW—a sWyle guide helps make Whe localisaWion consisWenW, even if many people parWicipaWe in Whe localisaWion. The sWyle guide deals wiWh language and culWural aWWribuWes, Werminology and qualiWy assessmenW aspecWs.

,n Whe following secWions, , will focus on Whe difficulWies common Wo ,ndian language localisers. , encourage localisers Wo use Whe references for more informaWion on specific languages. , have used Whe FU(L and MicrosofW sWyle guides for Telugu for illusWraWion and highlighW Whe improvemenWs needed.

LeW's look aW some language and culWural aWWribuWes.