Multilingual Websites - Worth the hassle? - Irish SEO, Marketing & Webmaster Discussion

blacknight · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 12:29 AM

Have any of you got any experience of maintaining multi-lingual websites?

Are they worth the effort?

Amateur · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 12:58 AM

Developing a one to display irish and english versions from the one db on the moment and its a pain in the arse!

blacknight · #3 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 01:04 AM

As long as you don't do an Aer Lingus on it

figment · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 01:10 AM

Slightly related: Localization just doesn't matter

Redfly · #5 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 07:06 AM

On our previous site, we had an Irish version. It was a pain in the arse all right and we got rid of it because we had absolutely 0 visitors using it.

richardo · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 07:40 AM

Did one - folamh.ie [English/Irish]

It was a pain. He kept sending me content, and I had to keep reminding him to send the translation.

Unfortunately, I don't have stats on the number who view the Irish version as it's cookie based. I wouldn't say there are many!

dave · #7 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 11:09 AM

We are developing a multi lingual site at the moment, 6 languages so far. Translation and getting them done is an issue.

On a side note. Joomlas' JoomFish is a very nice way of maintaining multilingual sites.

uncleseanie · #8 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 11:53 AM

I came across a piece of software that would do translations on the
fly i.e. if you had an english website you could click a button and
it would translate the site to, say, spanish. Not sure about its accuracy
as I don't speak any foreign languages but it seemed pretty neat.
Can't remember where I got it from. I'll have a hunt around and try
and locate it and will repost. Also don't think Irish was an option.

Redfly · #9 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleseanie

I came across a piece of software that would do translations on the
fly i.e. if you had an english website you could click a button and
it would translate the site to, say, spanish. Not sure about its accuracy
as I don't speak any foreign languages but it seemed pretty neat.
Can't remember where I got it from. I'll have a hunt around and try
and locate it and will repost. Also don't think Irish was an option.

I assure you, every single one of these tools will do a sub-par job at translating and end up making you look stupid and unprofessional.

If you're going to get a translation done, get it done properly. That's even if your site warrants it. I'm really lucky, my team, between us, we speak 8 languages.

A good place to get translations is universities. We have hired students from Trinity to do freelance translation work in the past at very reasonable rates.

richardo · #10 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleseanie

I came across a piece of software that would do translations on the
fly i.e. if you had an english website you could click a button and
it would translate the site to, say, spanish. Not sure about its accuracy
as I don't speak any foreign languages but it seemed pretty neat.
Can't remember where I got it from. I'll have a hunt around and try
and locate it and will repost. Also don't think Irish was an option.

This it? - Website Translation Service

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode