writing English documentation for fereign markets

["naomi (n.) bulka" <nbulka -at- BNR -dot- CA>]

Hi there folks,

Hope you can help me on this one........

I am interested in how you handle the problems of writing
English documentation for foreign markets where the user's first
language is NOT English.  (I am  writing a paper on the subject).

Below  you will find a list of questions relating to this topic.  Please
do not feel constrained to answer each one.  Feel free to add any
comments or suggestions pertinent to this subject.

Send your responses to me at nbulka -at- bnr -dot- ca -dot-  If there is a expressed
interest by others on the list to see the responses, I shall post a
summary.

Thanks so much,
Naomi Bulka

Northern Telecom
nbulka -at- bnr -dot- ca

*************************************************************
 Where are your customers located?

 ________________________________

 Do they speak English? (fluently, as a second language,
 barely, not at all)

 ______________________________

 Do you have field service people over there to answer
 questions?

 ______________________________________

Do you provide training in English or the local language?

__________________________________________________

Do you provide documentation in the local language?

 ___________________________________


 If yes, do you translate it or is that done by the
 customer?

 ________________________________________

 Do you translate the entire suite of pertinent documents
 or do you just translate some such as a quick reference
 guide?

 ____________________________________________________

 What is the approximate cost per page for
 translation?

 _____________________________________________

 How does this cost compare to sending English
 documentation and having a company rep available nearby
 to answer questions when they arise?

 ____________________________________

 How do you handle online documentation for foreign
 markets?

 __________________________________________

 Name of your company

 ______________________

 Type of product

 ____________________