Following collaboration with the Malta Information Technology Agency, Microsoft's Vista operating system is now available in Maltese. The translation of Vista forms part of a wider localisation drive to have popular software available in Maltese versions.
The Maltese Language Interface Pack that creates the desktop in Maltese has just been launched and can be downloaded for free from Microsoft's website.
MITA teamed up with Microsoft Malta for this challenging project, which forms part of a localisation drive that aims to ensure easier access to popular programmes by eliminating any language barriers that may prevent people from using technology.
The project was not the first of its kind for either organisation, as they had previously collaborated on the translation of Windows XP.
Adrian Avellino, IT consultant at MITA, was directly involved in the project and acted as coordinator between the translators employed to execute the translation process and the project partner, Microsoft Malta.
He explained that the aim of this project was to deliver tools that will help to preserve the Maltese language and increase its use online.
"The need for a Maltese version of Vista, was a natural follow-up to Windows XP in Maltese," he said. "With such projects, MITA is helping to promote the use of Maltese in IT. It is useful and desirable for the general public to be able to use their mother tongue when operating their computer."
MITA's role in the translation project included drafting the tenders to secure the services of qualified translators. The agency also took on the management of the adjudication process and selection of the translators who would be working on the project. On the other hand, Microsoft Malta provided the software tools necessary and the files that needed to be translated, as well as running engineering checks to identify any inconsistencies.
Mr Avellino explained that these localisation and translation projects present a learning curve for all involved.
"The translation of technical terms and phrases that are new to the Maltese language pose a significant challenge as we need to ensure that the translated term is easily understood, to ensure user-friendliness, yet make grammatical sense. The main aim is to produce a tool which is easy for users to operate, in their native language."
The conversion of Vista into Maltese involved the translation of some 400,000 words. The task was carried out by local professional translators, who were assisted by MITA and Microsoft when it came to translating difficult, technical terms and phrases that are not commonly used in the Maltese language. The thousands upon thousands of translated words and phrases were then reviewed by a moderator, who, as an expert in the Maltese language, could ensure that the best translation was selected in each and every instance.
The translation project involved the development of a detailed style guide for the use of the Maltese language in IT applications, an extensive glossary of terms, and a used a policheck. The style guide provided details of the style that was to be adopted during the translation to ensure that the end product was in conformity with the Microsoft brand.
The glossary provided a list of technical words, terms and phrases that are used in Vista, while the policheck, ensured that none of the translations contained words that are politically or culturally offensive, these words were automatically identified during the engineering phase and brought to the translators attention.
"Even though most Maltese are bi-lingual, the promotion of the usage of Maltese language through ICT still remains important," Fiorella Ellul Sullivan, citizenship lead (Malta and Cyprus) at Microsoft Malta, explained.
The development of the Maltese Language Interface Pack for Vista is unlikely to be the last project of its kind. Both MITA and Microsoft Malta feel that there is potential for collaboration on future localisation exercises.
Mr Avellino explained: "The Smart Island National ICT Strategy (2008 - 2010) promotes the localisation of mainstream software packages and the development of tools, resources and applications which promote the correct usage of Maltese. MITA intends to engage in other similar projects in the near future. The agency is equally committed to increasing the variety, as well as the quality, of Malta-relevant content on the web."
The Language Interface Pack software is available for download from www.mita.gov.mt. Users who have already downloaded the Maltese Language Interface Pack can also send their feedback and suggestions to MITA at vistamt.mita@gov.mt.