Michael Hunter Michael Hunter Hobart and William Smith CollegesHobart and William Smith Colleges

for Western New York Library Resources Councilfor Western New York Library Resources CouncilMember Libraries’ StaffMember Libraries’ Staff

Sponsored by the Sponsored by the Western New York Library Resources Council Western New York Library Resources Council

For Today …For Today …

Communicate in a foreign language on a Communicate in a foreign language on a computercomputer

Locate gateways to Search Services in Locate gateways to Search Services in Foreign CountriesForeign Countries

Search non-English servicesSearch non-English services Locate, use and evaluate free translation Locate, use and evaluate free translation

servicesservices Explore Spanish language search servicesExplore Spanish language search services

Focus today is on PC Focus today is on PC (Windows)(Windows)

Information for Macintosh Information for Macintosh at at

http://www.colby.edu/lrc/help/accents.http://www.colby.edu/lrc/help/accents.htmlhtml

What are the languages What are the languages of the Web’s of the Web’s ContentContent??

OCLC’s Web Characterization Project: OCLC’s Web Characterization Project:

Of all Of all uniqueunique websites in October, 2001 websites in October, 2001 73%73% EnglishEnglish 7%7% GermanGerman 5%5% JapaneseJapanese 3%3% FrenchFrench 3%3% SpanishSpanish 9%9% OtherOther

Who is Who is onon the Web? the Web?

From Global Reach Online MarketingFrom Global Reach Online Marketinghttp://global-reach.biz/globstats/http://global-reach.biz/globstats/(formerly glreach.com)(formerly glreach.com)

Communicating in a foreign Communicating in a foreign language on a computerlanguage on a computer

Two-way process (similar to us):Two-way process (similar to us):

Understanding (Display)Understanding (Display)

Speaking (Output)Speaking (Output)

Displaying ContentDisplaying Content“Understanding the language”“Understanding the language”

A computer must A computer must recognizerecognize non-English non-English characters in a variety of contextscharacters in a variety of contexts Files, e-mails, web pages and moreFiles, e-mails, web pages and more

Involves operating system, applications Involves operating system, applications and browser settingsand browser settings

Output (from Output (from You!You!))““Speaking the language”Speaking the language”

Creating files, e-mails, web pages and Creating files, e-mails, web pages and moremore

Involves operating system, applications, Involves operating system, applications, browsers AND keyboard layout settingsbrowsers AND keyboard layout settings

Displaying Displaying ContentContent“Understanding the “Understanding the Language”Language”

DisplayDisplay

Applications (Word, etc.)Applications (Word, etc.) Check the help filesCheck the help files

Multilanguage use of BrowsersMultilanguage use of Browsers Need to select language (font) Need to select language (font) Need to specify appropriate encoding option Need to specify appropriate encoding option

for the languages you will be usingfor the languages you will be using

Setting the Language Setting the Language (font)(font)

NetscapeNetscapeEdit | Preferences | Appearance | Fonts (set Edit | Preferences | Appearance | Fonts (set

both variable and fixed)both variable and fixed)NOTE: Netscape may automatically link a font NOTE: Netscape may automatically link a font

with the encoding you select)with the encoding you select) IEIE

Tools | Internet Options | LanguagesTools | Internet Options | Languages NOTE: To activate settings, close the NOTE: To activate settings, close the

browser and open it againbrowser and open it again

EncodingEncoding The method by which a document has been The method by which a document has been

converted to computerized data (aka converted to computerized data (aka character setcharacter set))

Not necessarily equivalent to a Not necessarily equivalent to a languagelanguage.. Most Western languages use one (ISO 8859-1), Most Western languages use one (ISO 8859-1),

but some languages (Russian, Chinese, but some languages (Russian, Chinese, Japanese) have several encoding schemes Japanese) have several encoding schemes

How do I know which one is How do I know which one is the current setting and/or the current setting and/or change it?change it?

NetscapeNetscapeView | Character SetView | Character Set

IEIEView | EncodingView | Encoding

NOTE: IE has an Auto-select feature which NOTE: IE has an Auto-select feature which works with most commonly used languagesworks with most commonly used languages

How do I know which to How do I know which to use?use? For Western European useFor Western European use

Western ISO 8859-1Western ISO 8859-1 For Central European, Baltic, Cyrillic, Greek, For Central European, Baltic, Cyrillic, Greek,

Turkish-based and Asian languages try a Turkish-based and Asian languages try a WindowsWindows or or ISOISO encoding scheme when encoding scheme when available.available.

Some schemes are platform-specific; check with Some schemes are platform-specific; check with your system administratoryour system administrator

If a document won’t display, try to e-mail a If a document won’t display, try to e-mail a contact person to determine the encoding contact person to determine the encoding scheme you need. ( You may need to be scheme you need. ( You may need to be creative to do this!)creative to do this!)

What is What is Unicode?Unicode? Encoding scheme that provides a unique number Encoding scheme that provides a unique number

for for everyevery character character No matter what the languageNo matter what the language No matter what the platformNo matter what the platform No matter what the programNo matter what the program

Required standard in XML, Java, and WMLRequired standard in XML, Java, and WML Enables data to be transported across multiple Enables data to be transported across multiple

platforms, languages and countries without platforms, languages and countries without corruption.corruption.

AKAAKA USO 10646 USO 10646 AKAAKA UTF-8 UTF-8

What are What are Dynamic Fonts?Dynamic Fonts?

Fonts Fonts provided withprovided with the document the document Usually in a Usually in a .pfr.pfr file that accompanies the file that accompanies the

documentdocument Allows the user to view the document Allows the user to view the document

without loading the font, or re-setting the without loading the font, or re-setting the browser or applicationbrowser or application

Increasingly used in documents in Far-Increasingly used in documents in Far-Eastern languagesEastern languages

Output (from Output (from You!You!))“Speaking the language”“Speaking the language”

KeyboardsKeyboards

The “usual” one is US 101–The “usual” one is US 101– a a qwerty qwerty standardstandard

The US-International is a qwerty The US-International is a qwerty keyboard with a few added features (I keyboard with a few added features (I recommend it for all Western European recommend it for all Western European languages)languages)

Other Other non-qwertynon-qwerty keyboard layouts exist keyboard layouts exist specifically for individual languagesspecifically for individual languages

Output (from You)Output (from You)“Speaking the language”“Speaking the language”

Set language (fonts) and encoding Set language (fonts) and encoding appropriate to the language you will be appropriate to the language you will be usingusing

Select a keyboard layoutSelect a keyboard layout FOR WINDOWS:FOR WINDOWS:

Control Panel | Keyboard | Language (or Input Control Panel | Keyboard | Language (or Input locales)locales)

US-International recommendedUS-International recommended

RESTART after changing a keyboard RESTART after changing a keyboard layout to activate the changelayout to activate the change

Output (from You)Output (from You)““Speaking the language”Speaking the language”

Some applications have specific Some applications have specific keyboard schemes for non-English keyboard schemes for non-English characterscharacters

Creating Web pages:Creating Web pages: See Hunter’s Toolkit for html code for See Hunter’s Toolkit for html code for

characters in Western European languagescharacters in Western European languages Check help files in Composer, Front Page or Check help files in Composer, Front Page or

other editor you may be usingother editor you may be using

Search Services in Search Services in Foreign LanguagesForeign Languages

Why use Search Services Why use Search Services based in another country based in another country and/or language?and/or language?

To find personal or business contact To find personal or business contact informationinformation AddressesAddresses Phone numbersPhone numbers E-mail addressesE-mail addresses

Sources for this information are often more Sources for this information are often more complete from these servicescomplete from these services

For more detailed information about a For more detailed information about a business or organizationbusiness or organization

Why use Search Services Why use Search Services based in another country based in another country and/or language?and/or language?

For more comprehensive coverage of For more comprehensive coverage of news and economic, political and cultural news and economic, political and cultural information about a countryinformation about a country

For alternate viewpoints about national For alternate viewpoints about national and international events and issuesand international events and issues

How do I know if a service is an How do I know if a service is an engine or a directory (or both)?engine or a directory (or both)?

Some gateway sites may use the word Some gateway sites may use the word IndexIndex to to denote a directory or other indication.denote a directory or other indication.

Some gateways may specify this such as Some gateways may specify this such as www.nationsonline.comwww.nationsonline.com

If the service is a portal, check results found using the If the service is a portal, check results found using the search box against results found in its subject search box against results found in its subject directory. If they are the same, it is a directory. If directory. If they are the same, it is a directory. If different, it may be crawler-based (engine) or a blend different, it may be crawler-based (engine) or a blend of engine and directory.of engine and directory.

Test for freshness (engines are usually fresher than Test for freshness (engines are usually fresher than directories)directories)

Try e-mailing the main contact (Good Luck !!!!)Try e-mailing the main contact (Good Luck !!!!)

A few tips for exploring the A few tips for exploring the ‘Net ourside our borders…‘Net ourside our borders… Begin with Begin with subject directoriessubject directories (if available) (if available)

when you are unfamiliar with the country when you are unfamiliar with the country or topicor topic

Seek out experts in an area or field; Seek out experts in an area or field; identify websites that are run by them and identify websites that are run by them and e-mail them for further leadse-mail them for further leads

Make use of support staff at US or foreign Make use of support staff at US or foreign embassies. They often know the best embassies. They often know the best Internet source for different types of Internet source for different types of informationinformation

A few tips …A few tips …

Watch for hidden assumptions and be Watch for hidden assumptions and be culturally sensitive. Just because it culturally sensitive. Just because it LOOKS like any other search engine or LOOKS like any other search engine or directory doesn’t mean that the people and directory doesn’t mean that the people and information behind it have the same information behind it have the same cultural conditions and background as US cultural conditions and background as US users.users.

Evaluating Sites in Evaluating Sites in Foreign LanguagesForeign Languages

Be especially cautious about reliability; check for Be especially cautious about reliability; check for author’s credentials, quality of links to and from author’s credentials, quality of links to and from the site and date. Contact the author(s) via e-the site and date. Contact the author(s) via e-mail if you feel the need. Most are happy to hear mail if you feel the need. Most are happy to hear that their site is visited and might be helpful in that their site is visited and might be helpful in your search.your search.

Many foreign-language sites lack top-level Many foreign-language sites lack top-level domains (edu, com, gov and others). In these domains (edu, com, gov and others). In these cases, link relationships and credentials are cases, link relationships and credentials are especially important. especially important. NOTE: In the UK TLD’s areNOTE: In the UK TLD’s are

co = com co = com ac = eduac = edu

Evaluating Search Services Evaluating Search Services in Foreign Languagesin Foreign Languages

Check for Check for freshnessfreshness by searching for a recent by searching for a recent eventevent

Check for Check for comprehensivenesscomprehensiveness by comparing by comparing findings for a topic with the same search on findings for a topic with the same search on Google or FASTGoogle or FAST

If you want to see which services are the If you want to see which services are the mostmost popularpopular in European countries, consult Jupiter in European countries, consult Jupiter Media Metrix data atMedia Metrix data at

http://www.jupitermmxi.com/europelanding.htmlhttp://www.jupitermmxi.com/europelanding.html

Free Translation ServicesFree Translation Services

Globalization and the Globalization and the InternetInternet

The ‘Net (and the World) is increasingly The ‘Net (and the World) is increasingly global in content global in content

Non-English content is growing at a faster Non-English content is growing at a faster rate than English contentrate than English content

For the first time, For the first time, in 2001in 2001 lessless than half of than half of all people online were from North Americaall people online were from North America

If present growth trends continue by 2004 If present growth trends continue by 2004 70% of all Internet users will be outside 70% of all Internet users will be outside North AmericaNorth America

BabelfishBabelfishhttp://http://babelfish.altavista.combabelfish.altavista.com The first publicly-available serviceThe first publicly-available service Spanish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Italian,

Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese to English and vice-versaJapanese to English and vice-versa

French to German, German to FrenchFrench to German, German to French Translates Translates

Any Altavista search resultAny Altavista search result Any URL in the supported languagesAny URL in the supported languages Supplied Text up to 150 wordsSupplied Text up to 150 words

Auto-translates linked pages (new feature)Auto-translates linked pages (new feature)

FreetranslationFreetranslationhttp://http://www.freetranslation.comwww.freetranslation.com

Offers Spanish, French, German, Offers Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian to English and vice-Portuguese, Italian to English and vice-versaversa

English to NorwegianEnglish to Norwegian Offers drop-down menus for vowels with Offers drop-down menus for vowels with

diacritics diacritics Text and URL both acceptedText and URL both accepted Good “Help” fileGood “Help” file

Translate.ru – Russia-basedTranslate.ru – Russia-basedhttp://www.translate.ruhttp://www.translate.ru

Offers Russian, French, German and Offers Russian, French, German and Spanish to English and vice-versaSpanish to English and vice-versa

German to French and vice-versaGerman to French and vice-versa Russian to French and vice-versaRussian to French and vice-versa Russian to German and vice-versaRussian to German and vice-versa Accepts Text, URL’s in supported Accepts Text, URL’s in supported

languages and e-mailslanguages and e-mails Auto-translates linked pages (????)Auto-translates linked pages (????)

GoogleGoogleGoogle.comGoogle.com

Offers German, Spanish, French, Italian, Offers German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese to English and vice-versaPortuguese to English and vice-versa

German to French and vice-versaGerman to French and vice-versa French to Spanish and vice-versaFrench to Spanish and vice-versa Google search results auto-translated into Google search results auto-translated into

EnglishEnglish Also accepts text and URL’s in supported Also accepts text and URL’s in supported

languageslanguages

Online Translation Online Translation DictionariesDictionaries

Martindale’s Collection (highly recommended)Martindale’s Collection (highly recommended) http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/Language.htmlhttp://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/Language.html

LexicoolLexicool http://www.lexicool.com/http://www.lexicool.com/

When terms When terms aren’t aren’t translated …translated … ““Gisting” translation processGisting” translation process

Automatically translates terms that Automatically translates terms that can becan be translated with a low degree of ambiguitytranslated with a low degree of ambiguity

Idioms and other terms that Idioms and other terms that cannotcannot be be unambiguously translated appear in the unambiguously translated appear in the original languageoriginal language

GistingGisting

Why might you need this?Why might you need this? As a filter to determine if a document is As a filter to determine if a document is

worth a finer, more costly translationworth a finer, more costly translation Useful in dealing with documents in Useful in dealing with documents in

multiple languages (eg. an e-mail message multiple languages (eg. an e-mail message with several comments from people using with several comments from people using different languages)different languages)

Evaluating Translation Evaluating Translation ServicesServices Choose a site that has a bi-lingual versionChoose a site that has a bi-lingual version

Eg. The Louvre has French, English, Spanish Eg. The Louvre has French, English, Spanish and Japanese versions http://www.louvre.frand Japanese versions http://www.louvre.fr

Enter the URL of a page from the foreign Enter the URL of a page from the foreign language version and compare the language version and compare the translation to the site’s own English translation to the site’s own English versionversion

OR, simply compare the translations of any OR, simply compare the translations of any URL or text among various servicesURL or text among various services

Compare these:Compare these:

French:French:

www.mbam.qc.ca/orangerie/index.htmlwww.mbam.qc.ca/orangerie/index.html

German:German:

www.transgen.dewww.transgen.de

Italian:Italian:

www.roma-intercultura.itwww.roma-intercultura.it

Spanish-language Spanish-language Search ServicesSearch Services

Google Spanish Search Google Spanish Search TipTip

In Google In Google Advanced SearchAdvanced Search, search for , search for significant words or phrases in the TITLE significant words or phrases in the TITLE (eg. museos, cultura, negocios, noticias)(eg. museos, cultura, negocios, noticias)

Limit the search by DOMAINLimit the search by DOMAIN Country code (es, mx, co -- Spain, Mexico, Country code (es, mx, co -- Spain, Mexico,

Columbia)Columbia) Top level (gov OR gob – government or Top level (gov OR gob – government or

gobierno) gobierno)

Internet Censorship in ChinaInternet Censorship in ChinaHuman Rights Watch ReportHuman Rights Watch Report

China’s government has over 60 sets of China’s government has over 60 sets of regulations governing Internet contentregulations governing Internet content

Individuals have been put on trial and Individuals have been put on trial and sentenced to prison for downloading or sentenced to prison for downloading or posting politically sensitive material on the posting politically sensitive material on the webweb

Government censors monitor Internet cafésGovernment censors monitor Internet cafés Politically sensitive topics are prohibited in Politically sensitive topics are prohibited in

chatroomschatrooms

Internet Censorship in Internet Censorship in ChinaChina20022002

August – Chinese Government requests Google, August – Chinese Government requests Google, Altavista, Yahoo and other services to remove Falun Altavista, Yahoo and other services to remove Falun Gong sites from their database.Gong sites from their database.

Yahoo does so, aas it operates an office in China Yahoo does so, aas it operates an office in China and as policy obeys laws of country of operation. and as policy obeys laws of country of operation. (Google and AV have no Chinese offices)(Google and AV have no Chinese offices)

Sept 2 - Access to Google and Altavista blocked in Sept 2 - Access to Google and Altavista blocked in China by Chinese GovernmentChina by Chinese Government

Sept 11 - Chinese government restores access, but Sept 11 - Chinese government restores access, but continues to monitor Googlecontinues to monitor Google

Foreign Search Services:Foreign Search Services:A few added values …A few added values …

Personal or business contacts in that Personal or business contacts in that countrycountry

Primary source material about a foreign Primary source material about a foreign country or topiccountry or topic

More detailed coverage of political, More detailed coverage of political, economic and cultural issues in that economic and cultural issues in that countrycountry

Alternate viewpoints about national and Alternate viewpoints about national and international events and issuesinternational events and issues

Thank you andThank you and Best of Luck in your Best of Luck in your

“travels”“travels”Michael HunterMichael Hunter

Warren Hunting Smith LibraryWarren Hunting Smith Library

Hobart and William Smith CollegesHobart and William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY 14507 Geneva, NY 14507

(315) 781-3552(315) 781-3552

hunter@hws.eduhunter@hws.edu