Indeterminacy of terms and icons in software localization

Klaus-Dirk Schmitz | University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Germany

This paper examines the relationship between terminology management practices in the software development and localization process and the empowerment of end-users. It shows that because a positive evaluation of the software use experience is often premised on clear and consistent terminology, indeterminacy phenomena such as non-transparent, “inappropriate” and inconsistent terms and icons lead to various forms of flawed communication (no meaning, wrong meaning, multiple meanings, unintended meaning, unintended association, etc.).

Keywords: icons, user empowerment, software localization, terminology management

Published online: 09 May 2007
https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.8.07sch

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Karsch, Barbara Inge

2009. Profile of a Terminologist in Localization Environments. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 1 ► pp. 122 ff.

Schmitz, Klaus-Dirk

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Schmitz, Klaus-Dirk

2015. In Handbook of Terminology [Handbook of Terminology, 1], ► pp. 451 ff.

Warburton, Kara

2015. In Handbook of Terminology [Handbook of Terminology, 1], ► pp. 360 ff.

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