[WSG] Multiple language usability query
Hi all I am new to multiple language sites. However, I have a client who has a small amount of text on one page of his site referring Japanese speaking users to a different (Japanese) site. Firefox and Safari on the Mac seem to have a default which allows the Japanese to be read. However, I noticed that good ol' Windows IE6 doesn't automatically render other languages and that its preferences needed to be changed etc. My question is this: Since most web users are using IE, and I imagine most IE browsers do not have multilingual capabilities enabled, then they would see gobbledegook. So... How do we overcome this in terms of usability? Is there a standard? Should I include (in English) a title and/or link above the Japanese text explaining how to render the text below, or explain, at the very least, that the strange characters below are in fact in another language? Thanks in advance Sarah -- XERT Communications email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] office: +61 2 4782 3104 mobile: 0438 017 416 http://www.xert.com.au/ web development : digital imaging : dvd production ** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help **
Re: [WSG] Multiple language usability query
Sarah Peeke (XERT) wrote: Firefox and Safari on the Mac seem to have a default which allows the Japanese to be read. However, I noticed that good ol' Windows IE6 doesn't automatically render other languages and that its preferences needed to be changed etc. It's probably a font related issue. IIRC, if none of the fonts specified in the font-family property contain the glyphs for those characters, IE won't find and display them. You may be able to improve the situation by including the following: font-family: Arial Unicode MS, Lucida Sans Unicode, sans-serif; Here's an article I found that discusses this issue. http://girtby.net/archives/2005/10/07/internet-explorer-makes-me/ -- Lachlan Hunt http://lachy.id.au/ ** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help **
Re: [WSG] Multiple language usability query
On 7 Feb 2006, at 7:02 am, Sarah Peeke (XERT) wrote: I am new to multiple language sites. However, I have a client who has a small amount of text on one page of his site referring Japanese speaking users to a different (Japanese) site. Firefox and Safari on the Mac seem to have a default which allows the Japanese to be read. However, I noticed that good ol' Windows IE6 doesn't automatically render other languages and that its preferences needed to be changed etc. Japanese (and other East-Asian) language support is installed by default on OS X. Not so on Windows side of things (it comes with the install discs as an extra package). I've been told that Firefox/Win tries to display the text nevertheless. Lachlan wrote It's probably a font related issue. IIRC, if none of the fonts specified in the font-family property contain the glyphs for those characters, IE won't find and display them. You may be able to improve the situation by including the following: font-family: Arial Unicode MS, Lucida Sans Unicode, sans-serif; Hmm, not sure (but I can't test those things, I don't have access to a PC without East-Asian language support...:-)). A little test file http://dev.l-c-n.com/_temp/j-test.php Includes a screenshot. I've used a whole collection for the font- family (first some Japanese font-families, then some fall back stuff as mentioned). Let me know how it looks like (for the curious, it is my name). Sarah again My question is this: Since most web users are using IE, and I imagine most IE browsers do not have multilingual capabilities enabled, then they would see gobbledegook. So... How do we overcome this in terms of usability? Is there a standard? Should I include (in English) a title and/or link above the Japanese text explaining how to render the text below, or explain, at the very least, that the strange characters below are in fact in another language? What about including the text both in Japanese and English ? Philippe --- Philippe Wittenbergh http://emps.l-c-n.com/ ** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help **
Re: [WSG] Multiple language usability query
Hi Philippe, Japanese (and other East-Asian) language support is installed by default on OS X. Not so on Windows side of things (it comes with the install discs as an extra package). I've been told that Firefox/Win tries to display the text nevertheless. Just as I thought. A little test file http://dev.l-c-n.com/_temp/j-test.php Thanks for the link - BTW I love your quote: Ce qui n'est pas invisble, n'a pas d'importance What about including the text both in Japanese and English ? Great, simple solution - should do the trick. Sarah :) -- XERT Communications email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] office: +61 2 4782 3104 mobile: 0438 017 416 http://www.xert.com.au/ web development : digital imaging : dvd production ** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help **
