This primer provides a broad perspective on the localization of Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) for the benefit of policy- and decision-makers in developing countries. It highlights the benefits and strategies of FOSS localization, along with case studies from various countries that are on the road to software freedom.

The primer begins with an introduction to localization and the benefits of choosing FOSS over proprietary software. The next section provides a survey of initiatives and efforts in localization of FOSS within the Asia-Pacific region, including best practices and lessons learned specifically in countries such as Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, India and Malaysia. The primer also provides three case studies of localization efforts in Thailand, Lao PDR and Cambodia, as well as recommendations on technical issues, resource allocation, skills and tools, implementation, costs and language considerations.

To help localizers get started, two annexes regarding key concepts and the technical aspects of localization are provided. These are intended for project managers and implementers who are planning software localization projects.

这本册子帮助发展中国家的政策制定者和决策者从一个宽泛的视角看自由／开源软件的本地化。本书的重点是自由／开源软件本地化的益处和策略，同时提供了走在软件自由之路上的不同国家的案例研究。

册子从对本地化的介绍和舍弃私有软件而选择自由／开源软件的好处开始。后一节提供了亚太地区自由／开源软件本地化的项目和工作情况的调查，包括从越南、泰国、柬埔寨、印度和马来西亚等国家获得的有益经验和教训。本册也提供了泰国、老挝和柬埔寨三个国家本地化工作的案例研究，以及对技术、资源分配、工具和技巧、实现、成本和语言问题的一些建议。

为帮助本地化工作者起步，本书的附录提供了与本地化相关的主要概念和技术信息，供软件本地化工程的项目管理人员和实施者使用。

计算机、英语和本地用户
本地化
本地化的重要性
什么是自由／开源软件？
什么是 GNU/Linux ？
为什么本地化自由／开源软件？

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计算机、英语和本地用户

如果你看不懂说明、按钮和菜单，你几乎没法使用计算机。因此亚洲的许多国家在工作场所、学校和家庭采用现代计算机技术的进程落后于欧美国家也就不足为奇了。

计算机并不一定要用英文显示一切信息。实际上，计算机“不在乎”它显示的是什么文字，因为所有的信息最终都被转换为1和0。即使现实的信息被翻译为另一种语言，计算机也照样运行。

把软件翻译为别的语言并不是新鲜事。这个称为“本地化”的过程，技术上并不困难。但是，它需要专业的管理、翻译人员，以及财力资源，在初次翻译的工作中尤其如此。

商业软件公司已经为特定的市场做了一些软件本地化。一般来说，他们通过收取自己软件本地化版本的许可费用来回收成本。在一般公民无力支付这种费用的国家，人们要么不使用本地化软件，要么使用非法拷贝。所有国家都希望享有本地化软件的好处，但有些国家支付不起昂贵的许可费用。有了自由／开源软件，这个问题就解决了。
自由／开源软件的方便获取，加上鼓励软件本地化／多种语言翻译的政策，提供了在世界范围内推广计算机应用的理想方式。

现在是发展中国家欢迎自由／开源软件运动，通过自由／开源软件本地化来加速计算技术普及的时候了。

It is almost impossible to use a computer if you cannot read the instructions, buttons and menus. Thus it is not surprising that many countries in Asia lag behind Europe and America in the adoption and use of modern computer technologies at work, in schools, and in the home.

Computers don't have to display everything in English. In fact, the computer "doesn't care" what language is displayed, since everything is ultimately converted into ones and zeros. Even if the display is translated into another language, the computer continues to operate as before.

Translating software is nothing new. This process, which is known as `localization', is not technically difficult. However, it requires professional management, a team of translators, and financial resources, especially for the initial translations.

Commercial companies have localized software for specific markets. Typically, they recoup their costs by charging license fees for the localized versions of their software. In countries where the average citizen cannot afford to pay the fees, they either do without localized software or resort to illegal copying. All countries want the benefits of localized software, but some cannot afford the expensive licenses. With FOSS, this problem is solved. A combination of policies that encourage software localization/ translation into different languages and the ready availability of FOSS, presents an ideal means for expanding computer use worldwide.

Now is the time for developing countries to embrace the FOSS movement, and accelerate their adoption of computing technology by localizing FOSS.

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本地化

本地化是为一个特定的市场（为特定的区域或文化习惯；区域通常决定了像排序方式，键盘布局，日期，时间，数字和货币格式这样的习惯）修改、翻译和定制产品的过程。对于软件的本地化，这个过程意味着生成有意义的，用户能够理解的软件界面。

本地化行业标准协会（Localization Industry Standards Association, LISA）这样定义本地化：“本地化涉及到选择一个产品并使其在语言和文化方面与它将被使用和出售到的目标区域（国家／地区和语言）相适应。”(1)一般地说，这涉及到翻译用户界面（程序向用户表达的信息）以便用户能够创建文本和数据，并修改、打印，或用电子邮件发送它们，等等。

技术上，本地化自由／开源软件与本地化商业软件没有什么分别。都要改换字体，定义键盘布局，并使用相关的标准。不同的是价格和许可制度。对于自由／开源软件，其价格较低，而且授权对所有人开放。为了节省金钱和时间，扶持本地的创新，以及与软件非法拷贝做斗争，自由／开源软件的本地化是一个更好的选择。

Localization is the process of adapting, translating and customizing a product (software) for a specific market (for a specific locale or cultural conventions; the locale usually determines conventions such as sort order, keyboard layout, date, time, number and currency formats). In terms of software localization, this means the production of interfaces that are meaningful and comprehensible to local users.

The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines localization as: "Localization involves taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale (country/region and 1 language) where it will be used and sold." Typically, this involves the translation of the user interface (the messages a program presents to users) to enable them to create documents and data, modify them, print them, send them by e-mail, etc.

Technically localizing FOSS is no different from localizing commercial software. Fonts must be changed, keyboard layouts devised, and standards adopted. The difference is price and licensing. With FOSS, the price is lower and the license open to all. For saving money and time, nurturing local innovation, and combating illegal copying of software, FOSS localization is a better alternative.

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本地化的重要性

目前，人们要使用计算机，就要先学习英语。在识字率较低的国家，这个条件阻碍了人们使用信息和通讯技术（Information and communication technologies, ICTs），农村的穷人和妇女受教育的机会更少。即使学过英语，用户也需要在外国软件的许可上花费数百美元，或者使用不断蔓延的非法软件拷贝，才能使用 ICTs。概括地说，信息技术的使用是［经济和社会］发展的关键之一，本地化的自由／开源软件是信息基础设施中重要的遗失的环节。

本地化带来如下的好处：

• 极大地减少让用户能够使用计算机系统所需要的培训工作量。
• 促进中小型企业采用计算机技术。
• 帮助国家在中央、省级和区级行政部门发展计算机系统，让公务员能够完全用本地语言工作并管理含有本地语言名称和数据的数据库。
• 协助省市级的数据分布。这对基础设施公司（电力、自来水、电话）同样适用。他们可以使用本地语言的数据库，从而降低成本和优化服务。
• 允许公民用自己的语言书写电子邮件并沟通交流。
• 促进本地软件开发公司为管理部门、公共事业单位和私有企业工作。
• 向本地设计业提供高质量的字体。
• 帮助大学培训更多的软件工程师。

这个牵涉多方的项目的受益人包括：

• 直接的，所有本地计算机用户——可以容易地使用电脑而不用先学习英语。
• 间接的，与政府打交道的全体公民——通过使用本地化计算机系统带来的政务效能提高。
• 本地政府能够开发基于当地语言的数据库和应用程序。本地化带来足够的技术力量和有能力的本地开发公司。政府也将能拥有在类似的管理机构（例如省级单位）协调部署应用程序的工具，这样用最低的成本就能实现信息技术带来的执政能力的改善。
• 软件产业。政府对兼容的计算机技术的采用鼓励软件公司开发兼容的、应用于不同部门的计算机系统，从而在境内建立稳定的软件产业。一旦（使用自由／开源软件）掌握了技术，这些公司将获得以极具竞争力的价格为外国公司开发类似项目的能力，促进在外地市场的销售。

Currently, people who want to use computers must first learn English. In a country with low literacy rates, this blocks access to information and communications technologies (ICTs), especially for the rural poor and women who do not have equal access to education. Even after having learnt English, users must pay hundreds of dollars to license foreign software, or resort to widespread illegal copying of software, in order to gain access to ICTs. In short, access to information technology is one of the keys to development, and localized FOSS applications remain a crucial missing link in communications infrastructure.

Localization brings the following benefits:
Significantly reduces the amount of training necessary to empower end-users to use a computer system.
Facilitates the introduction of computer technology in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Opens the way for the development of computer systems for a country's national, provincial and district level administration that will allow civil servants to work entirely in the local language and manage databases of local language names and data.
Facilitates the decentralization of data at provincial and district levels. The same applies to utility companies (electricity, water, telephone), who will develop local language databases, thereby reducing costs and giving better service to citizens.
Allows citizens to communicate through e-mail in their own language.
Empowers local software development companies to work for the administration, the public sector and private companies.
Provides the local design industry with good fonts.
Helps universities train more software engineers.

The beneficiaries of this multi-stakeholder project are:
Directly, all local computer users, who will have easier access to the use of computers as they will not have to learn English first.
Indirectly, through improvements in governance using native computer systems, all local citizens in the quality of their dealings with the administration.
The local government who will have the opportunity to develop databases and applications in the local language. Sufficient technology and empowered local development companies will be available. The government will also have the tool to coordinate applications among similar administrations (e.g., provinces), so that IT-based improvements in governance can be made at the lowest possible cost.
The software industry. The government's use of standards-compliant computer technology encourages software companies to start developing compatible computer systems that will be used by the different bodies of the administration, thereby creating a stable software industry in the country. Once this expertise is developed (using FOSS), these companies will be empowered to undertake similar projects for foreign companies at extremely competitive prices, facilitating sales beyond the local market.

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什么是自由／开源软件

过去十年中发生的事在之前的年代看来是不可能的。志愿的计算机科学家群体开发出了计算机操作系统，高端的图形界面（桌面），以及大量的应用程序，在质量、外观和可靠性上都能与最先进的私有软件（如微软的 Windows）媲美。

自由／开源软件（Free/Open Source Software）中的“Free”字眼是指使用、学习、修改和分享软件的自由。分享自由／开源软件的自由意味着人们可以使用和翻译这些软件而不用支付任何费用。但是，有些可以免费使用的软件，如“共享软件”（shareware）和“免费软件”（freeware），不能被用来研究、修改和分享，所以它们不是自由／开源软件。

开发自由／开源软件的曾经都是志愿爱好者。但今天，像 IBM 和升阳这样的大型计算机公司也支持和开发自由／开源软件。

越来越多的欧洲国家和地方政府制定了或正在制定提倡使用自由／开源软件代替私有系统和工具的政策。这不仅使它们不再依赖于商业软件供应商，而且也帮助扶持了它们自己的软件开发产业。

今天的自由／开源软件无疑是生机盎然，质量上乘的。因此，许多政府选择了自由／开源软件进行本地化。

The last decade witnessed a phenomenon which in the preceding one would have been thought of as impossible. A community of volunteer computer scientists has developed computer operating systems, advanced user interfaces (desktops), and a number of applications that compete in quality, appearance and robustness with some of the most advanced proprietary software (such as Microsoft Windows).

The term "free" in Free/Open Source Software refers to freedom to use, study, modify and share the software. The freedom to share FOSS implies that it can be used and translated by people without their having to pay any fees. However, some software that can be used without having to pay user fees, such as `shareware' or `freeware', cannot be studied, modified or shared, which means that they are not FOSS.

At one time, FOSS was exclusively developed by volunteer enthusiasts. Today, however, even large computer companies such as IBM and Sun Microsystems support and develop FOSS.

A growing number of European national and local administrations have developed or are developing policies to promote the use of FOSS instead of proprietary systems and tools. This not only gives them independence from commercial vendors, but also nurtures their own software development industries.

There is little doubt now that FOSS is viable and of high quality. Therefore, many governments are choosing FOSS for localization.

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什么是 GNU/Linux ？

GNU/Linux 是由 Linus Torvalds 和 GNU 项目在全世界成千上万名志愿开发者协助下从头创建的一个自由的类 Unix 操作系统。它是最流行的自由／开源软件。
GNU/Linux 的源代码在 GNU 通用公共许可下开发，对每个人都自由开放。下载和使用它不需要任何授权费用。Linux 是稳定安全的，也没有“隐藏的”功能，因为所有源代码都是对公众开放的。与私有软件不同，全球成千上万的开发者都可以审查代码，发现隐患，提供安全补丁和改进代码，因此 GNU/Linux 一直以来都很难被入侵者攻破。

GNU/Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds and the GNU Project with the assistance of thousands of volunteer developers around the world. It is the most popular FOSS. Developed under the GNU General Public License, the source code for GNU/Linux is freely available to everyone. And one does not have to pay a licensing fee to download and use it. It is robust and secure, and it has no "hidden" features, because the source code is publicly available. Unlike proprietary operating systems, thousands of developers across the globe can inspect the code, identify vulnerabilities, provide security patches, contribute improvements and therefore historically GNU/Linux systems cannot be easily compromised by attackers.

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为什么本地化自由／开源软件？

由使用英语的公司控制，几乎占据垄断地位的英文软件不能满足一个国家的长期需要，这是人们的共识。微软和其他几个美国大公司主宰了国际软件市场，获取巨额利润，拥有庞大势力。对于资金有限的用户，支付私有软件的负担意味着用于其他关键软件的花销必须削减，同时也失去了语言自由。

虽然私有软件的质量一般都属上乘，世界各地的政府都明白对商业公司的依赖会带来高风险。如果一个公司决定不再为某个语言版本的软件提供支持，就只有熟练掌握英语的人才能有效地使用计算机。而本地的信息和通信技术专业人士一旦同时掌握了计算机技术和熟练的英语，他们往往很快被吸引到国外，导致“脑力流失”，对发展中国家造成今后几代人的损害。

自由／开源软件本地化的关键优势：

• 减少进口依赖。
• 本地用户不需要先学习英语。
• 本地程序员能够获得专业知识和经验。
• 本地人能够自行控制软件的外观和功能。
• 新的本地技术标准和教育机会。
• 建立本地软件产业。外国人来做本地化是很难的，因为他们一般没有本地语言的语感，语言经常有缺陷。
• 关于本地内容的国家政策不必依赖于别人提供私有软件或硬件。
• 根据国家需要，可以重点支持某些软件的本地化。
• 可以使用有重要民族性的语言，即使［私有软件本地化］在经济上不可行。

私有软件的缺点：

• 授权和维护费用高昂。
• 英语占统治地位。
• 被外国企业控制。
• 依赖于私有或封闭的标准。
• 缺少或没有本地支持。
• 高价软件造成非法拷贝。
• 本地软件业得不到发展。
• 不能本地化或修改软件。

自由／开源软件通常都比私有或封闭源代码的软件更加安全。用秘鲁国会议员 Villanueva 的话说，“为了保证国家安全，政府必须使用任何组件都不能被外人控制的系统。开源系统允许政府和公民自行检查代码，检验是否有后门和间谍软件存在。”(2)

当然，在一个不确定的、时有危险的世界上，没有哪个政府敢于依赖一个他们无法控制的诡秘组织（例如一个商业软件公司）的良好意愿，而拿他们的信息基础设施的安全冒险。

It is an acknowledged fact that the near-monopoly of English language software, controlled by English- speaking companies, does not serve the long-term needs of any country. Microsoft and a few other large US corporations dominate the international software market, earning large profits and wielding enormous power. For those with limited funds, the burden of paying for proprietary software means less money for other programmes of vital importance, as well as giving up linguistic freedom.

While proprietary software is often of the highest quality, policy-makers worldwide know that it carries a high risk of dependence on commercial corporations. If a corporation decides to no longer support software in another language, only those who are fluent in English would be able to operate computers effectively. And when local ICT professionals become proficient in both computers and English, they are quickly lured away from home, leading to a "brain-drain" that can damage a developing country for generations to come.

Key Advantages of FOSS Localization
Reduced reliance on imports.
No need for local users to learn English first.
Local programmers gain expertise and experience.
Local control over software appearance and functionality.
New local technical standards and educational opportunities.
Establishment of a local software industry. It is difficult for foreigners to do localization as they
do not normally have an intuitive feel for the local language and therefore the language is com-
promised in most cases.
National policy on local content would not be dependant on the availability of proprietary
software or hardware.
Localization of applications can be prioritized according to the national needs.
Languages that are nationally important but financially unfeasible can be used.

Disadvantages of Proprietary Software
Expensive to license and maintain.
Dominated by the English language.
Controlled by foreign corporations.
Dependent on proprietary or closed standards.
Has little or no local support.
The high cost of the software leads to illegal copying of the software.
The local software industry is not developed.
Software cannot be localized or modified.

FOSS is generally much more secure than proprietary or closed source software. In the words of Peruvian Congressman Villanueva, "To guarantee national security, the State must be able to rely on systems without elements controlled from a distance. Systems with open source code allow the State and citizens to inspect the code themselves and check for back doors and spyware." (2)

Certainly, in an uncertain and sometimes dangerous world, few governments can afford to risk their information infrastructure security by relying on the goodwill of a secretive organization (such as a commercial software company) that they cannot control.

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1 The Localization Industry Primer, LISA - The Localization Industry Standards Association, 2nd Edition, 2003; available from www.lisa.org/interact/LISAprimer.pdf.

2 `The OSS advocacy report: Peruvian Congressman Responds to Microsoft', March 10, 2002; available from www.studioforrecording.org/mt/Pubdomain_Bread/archivist/000013.html