If your job involves IT localization (e.g., localizing apps used in clinical trials), you may have been using the Microsoft Language Portal since as early as 2009.
The Portal used to host a multilingual online dictionary “designed to enable individuals and communities around the world to interact with each other and with Microsoft’s language specialists on matters related to computer terminology”. It also offered free downloads of localization style guides and translations of user interface text.
BUT it was removed on June 30 this year, in what seemed to be a sad end to the story.
The goods news is that, on June 29, the Microsoft Learn website announced where the Microsoft Language Resources (Terminology, UI Strings, Localization Style Guides, and Regional Formats) would be moved to.
Microsoft Terminology, which can serve as a base IT glossary for language development in the nearly 100 languages available, can be queried via the Microsoft Terminology Search page.
Microsoft terminology is also provided in .tbx format, an industry standard for terminology exchange, for download.
Microsoft UI strings can be queried via the Microsoft UI String Search page.
Finally, Microsoft Language Resources include Localization Style Guides that define language and style conventions for specific languages.
While the new search pages may not be as user-friendly and visually appealing as the old ones, it is reassuring to know they are not gone forever!
References:
J. (2023, June 29). Microsoft language resources – Globalization. Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/globalization/reference/microsoft-language-resources
Accessed July 24, 2023
Accessed July 24, 2023
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