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Article published In:
The Journal of Internationalization and Localization
Vol. 6:1 (2019) ► pp.1–24

Transferring web accessibility through localization and internationalization standards

| University of Salamanca
| University of Geneva

In recent years, translation and localization studies have started to include accessibility, and web accessibility in particular, as one of the key aspects to take into consideration when adapting a web product to another language and culture (web localization). This paper provides a comprehensive insight of the connections between these two fields and concepts and, above all, it discusses the possibility of transferring accessibility throughout the localization process. In particular, we analyze how the use of current localization and internationalization data exchange standards is connected to this notion of transfer, and how those standards may be capable of transferring accessibility qualities or information, or supporting localizers in their task. Finally, we present an analytical and pragmatic approach to explore this transferability challenge, which includes the study of the techniques proposed by the W3C to help web developers fulfil a set of success criteria that are included in the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, in relation to their possible integration in localization and internationalization standards.

Keywords: web accessibility, localization, internationalization, standards, WCAG guidelines, XLIFF, ITS
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background and motivation
    • 2.1Content and affordances in web accessibility and localization
    • 2.2Accessibility guidelines
    • 2.3Multilingual information exchange standards
  • 3.Theoretical approach
    • 3.1Language- and culture-bound access barriers and pathways
    • 3.2Transferring accessible content in localization
    • 3.3Transfer or support?
      • 3.3.1Supporting accessibility features: A few examples
      • 3.3.2Provisional conclusions regarding accessibility transfer or support in localization
    • 3.4Challenging localization context and agency
  • 4.Methodological approach
  • 5.Preliminary insights: XLIFF and ITS transfer and support for accessibility content
    • 5.1Accessibility transfer and support capabilities
    • 5.2Accessibility transfer and support limitations and opportunities
  • 6.Conclusions and future work
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 16 May 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/jial.19002.tor
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