How Do Localization Services and Platforms Tackle Right-to-Left Languages?

Is a language just limited to the words it uses? What about direction, details, and designs?

Did you know that over 422 million people read Arabic across 22 countries? Yet there are only a handful of digital platforms that support right-to-left languages (like Arabic) or complex scripts. While some—with the help of free online tools—do try to change their platforms to support these scripts, they fail miserably without support from professional localization services. In fact, some e-commerce sites see a 35% drop in visitors when their Arabic or Hebrew pages are not localized properly.

Supporting right-to-left (RTL) languages and complex scripts like Hindi, Tamil, or Thai isn’t just limited to translating the language. It also hinges on rethinking layout, flow, and user interface. The best localization platforms help online brands to ensure smoother customer experience, stronger engagement, and wider reach.

In this blog, we will explore how localization platforms meet the unique demands of RTL and complex scripts and why it is essential to get them right.

What Are RTL Languages and Complex Scripts?

These languages come under specialized groups and require extra attention during translation and localization projects.

• RTL Languages: The language is essentially written from right to left. Some examples of this language are Arabic, Hebrew, and Urdu.
  
  
• Complex Scripts: Languages that feature intricate shapes, ligatures, and contextual forms while writing are often referred to as complex scripts. Some examples are Hindi, Tamil, and Thai.

Arabic, in general, is a widely spoken language among digital consumers. But Arabic in itself consists of several dialects, the most important one being Modern Standard Arabic. Explore the significance of Modern Standard Arabic in our blog: Modern Standard Arabic: The Rising Language of the Middle East.

Why Does a Platform Need to Support RTL and Complex Scripts?

With the rapid rise in globalization, brands can no longer afford to base their operations in a local region. They need to scale operations and reach diverse consumers. Localization services help brands that try to connect with linguistically and culturally diverse audiences by offering various language solutions—be they simple, RTL, or complex.

Supporting RTL languages and complex scripts in an online platform helps brands to:

• Create an organic reach to markets that speak Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, and Tamil.
  
  
• Ensure that visitors who prefer RTL and complex scripts enjoy a seamless online experience.
  
  
• Build trust with culturally respectful translations.

What Makes Localizing RTL and Complex Scripts So Difficult?

The localization process demands attention to several nuances like language layout, spacing between letters, and cultural sensitivity. But when it comes to RTL and complex scripts like Arabic and Hindi, challenges get more difficult to overcome.

• Text direction and UI mirroring: The entire interface needs to be completely flipped to support right-to-left readability; that can affect both navigation and text alignment.
  
  
• Ligatures and diacritics: Complex scripts consist of unique character combinations that can change the meaning and tone of the sentence.
  
  
• Contextual shaping: In scripts like Arabic and Hebrew, letters change their shape according to their surrounding letters.
  
  
• Unicode: These scripts require accurate digital encoding to display correctly across different platforms and devices.

How Best Localization Platforms Handle These Challenges?

A top website and app localization service provides extra care for RTL languages and complex scripts.

• Proper Display of Complex Scripts: Use of web- and app-compatible fonts and shaping engines to ensure scripts appear correctly across devices.
  
  
• Smart Text Direction Handling: Automatically switches between LTR and RTL layouts, with mirrored interfaces and properly aligned menus.
  
  
• Consistent Use of Translation Memory: Uses accurate and appropriate translations across all RTL and complex script content.
  
  
• Rigorous Quality Checks: Professional localization services conduct strict reviews by verifying text alignment, line and paragraph breaks, ligatures, and overall layout integrity.
  
  
• Smooth Integration: Localization platforms offer seamless integration with CMS localization, app localization, or software using JSON, XML, or HTML.

Why Does Technical Adaptation Matter in Localization?

As we have discussed earlier, for RTL and complex scripts, just changing the language won’t be enough. Brands also need to ensure that the digital experience of their consumers feels native to them. And for this, technically adapting the content is necessary.

• Arabic Website Localization: As a right-to-left written language, Arabic consists of unique letter shaping and text flow, which greatly impacts the user experience. For example, buttons and menus on an Arabic website with an improperly mirrored layout may appear confusing and out of place to the visitors. Localization Services also need to pay extra attention to the font choice, as not all fonts support the Arabic script.
  
  
• Hindi-Specific Challenges: Hindi uses the Devanagari script, which comes under complex scripts. The script consists of several conjunct characters like “त्र” or “ज्ञ,” which can appear distorted if not properly supported by the platform, like PDF exports and mobile apps. Using proper Unicode and fonts like Noto Sans Devanagari is the key to ensuring the consistent display of texts across different platforms.
  
  
• Platform Consistency: Translating a website into Arabic or Hindi is not limited to the text used. It also involves tweaking product descriptions, CTA buttons, checkout pages, currency, and date/time format. The best localization platforms ensure these elements are properly converted so that an Arabic- or Hindi-speaking visitor does not get confused.

Localization Done Right with Somya Translators

True and effective localization for RTL languages and complex scripts requires the platform, be it an app or a website, to be culturally adapted, structured, and designed according to audience preferences. At Somya Translators, we go beyond translating words to deliver expert localization services that respect every script, every layout, and every user.

With us, you get:

• ISO 17100:2015-Certified Procedure: We offer quality-assured localization services backed by our ISO certification.
  
  
• Skilled, Native Linguists: Our linguistic experts in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Tamil, and other complex scripts ensure professional and accurate translations.
  
  
• Technical Expertise: Our linguists have proven expertise in app localization, CMS integration, and handling script-specific challenges.
  
  
• Fast and Scalable Solutions: We implement efficient workflows, quality reviews, and multilingual solutions to ensure all requirements from our clients are met.

Our motto is simple: Invest in quality localization. Invest in global connection.

Want to perfect your digital content by integrating accurate RTL languages and complex scripts?

Contact us today for expert localization services and get a free quote!