Mirela
Digraphia is a linguistic phenomenon where a single language is represented by two different writing scripts or alphabets, either simultaneously or over different historical periods. So what does this mean for localization? The coexistence of multiple scripts for a single language brings along some challenges in the field of localization. But we know of a few strategies that can help.
Understanding digraphia and its implications
Digraphia can take the form of synchronic digraphia, where two scripts are used concurrently by speakers of the language. A good example is the Serbian language, which employs both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets interchangeably. Each script might serve different regions, social groups, or platforms. That surely is a challenge for localizers who must decide which script to use for which audience.
Examples of digraphic languages:
- Serbo-Croatian, written in both Latin and Cyrillic scripts, depending on region and context (e.g., Croatia vs. Serbia).
- Chinese, where both traditional characters and simplified characters are used in different places (Taiwan vs. Mainland China).
- Hindi/Urdu, which are linguistically very similar, but Hindi is typically written in Devanagari, while Urdu is written in a Perso-Arabic script.
- Mongolian, which is written in Cyrillic in Mongolia, but in traditional vertical Mongolian script in Inner Mongolia (China).
This dual-script usage means localization will not simply be text translation. You must also adapt the script choice to the audience’s preferences or regional norms. If you choose the Latin script, it might broaden accessibility regionally, but Cyrillic could provide greater cultural specificity and acceptance. How do you decide?
Strategies for localization in multi-script contexts
Now let’s look at some strategies you can implement to tackle this.
Script usage research
It goes without saying that you first need to do thorough research on the target audience’s script preferences and regional variations. Some language communities use different scripts for digital communication versus traditional print, or alternate based on formality or context.
One of the main methods is direct field research with users in the target market: surveys, interviews, and focus groups. You can also survey published media, digital content, advertising, government communications, and social media usage. This will give you strong clues about script dominance and acceptability.
Of course, you should also consult some local linguistic experts. Language specialists, sociolinguists, and local cultural consultants have deep knowledge of script politics and usage patterns. They are the most capable to decipher complex digraphia situations.
Flexible content management systems
A flexible CMS enables you to handle multiple language variants, including script differences, with ease. You need a CMS that supports multi-site or multi-language content management where different websites or language versions share a single source of truth yet retain their unique content and script variations. This way, you can manage all scripts from a centralized interface.
A headless CMS architecture is often preferred because it decouples content from presentation, enabling dynamic script switching and deployment across diverse platforms via APIs. You can further streamline workflows by integrating it with translation management and transliteration tools, automating script conversions. Plus, it enables collaboration among translators and developers.
Transliteration and script conversion tools
Transliteration and script conversion tools are used for the automatic or semi-automatic conversion of text between different writing systems of the same language (for example, from Latin to Cyrillic or Arabic-based scripts). These tools generate script variants quickly while maintaining phonetic fidelity.
They often feature real-time conversion, batch processing for large content sets, and integration capabilities with CMS or translation management systems. Nonetheless, transliteration only converts sounds or characters. You still need to do manual review to make sure the content is culturally and contextually appropriate.
Employ language fallbacks and redundancy mechanisms
We suggest you employ language fallbacks and redundancy mechanisms so that your users receive content even when specific script or language variants are unavailable. The system looks for translated content starting with the exact locale requested and progressively checks more general or related language versions.
Through this, you avoid content gaps and maintain a good user experience by providing the closest available linguistic alternative. Properly designed fallbacks reduce the frustration of users when certain script variants lack full coverage.
Fallback chains are typically based on rules from linguistic databases or standards like CLDR (they define the order of language and script preferences). Developers customize these chains to prioritize scripts or dialects relevant to their audience. Redundancy also supports system reliability during updates or incremental deployments when some scripts may lag.
To conclude
Flexible content management, transliteration tools, and fallback mechanisms should help you address any issues that may arise with multi-script language localization. Depending on what you have to offer, you might even choose to include both scripts. Furthermore, languages and scripts may evolve or shift in user preference over time. Thankfully, with continuous localization, you can keep your products relevant.