Language selection
The Design Need:
You have a multilingual audience and want to provide them with services in different languages.
Design Examples:
Design Solution:
If you decide to offer a variety of languages, you should consider several factors when designing the language choice:
- List the language choices using the name of each language in that language, e.g. English, Français. Flags represent countries, not languages, so do not use flags as icons for languages
- Offer language choices on every page. Users might want to change their choice later on Furthermore, users enter websites via all kinds of pages, and should be able to select the language of their choice at the point of entry
- If the website is not fully translated in a certain language, indicate this to the user
- Only use a starting or splash screen for language choice if it is not possible to select a default language used by a very large proportion of users
- If you use a starting (splash) screen for language selection, remember the users’ choice and do not show the selection screen again when they return. However, do offer a way to change the language of choice later on
- Use different URLs for the translation of website content. This allows users to bookmark pages in their language of choice.
When to use:
When you offer website content in different languages.
Why use this solution (rationale):
Since you easily reach an international audience online it might be interesting to translate your website into the most common languages used by your target audience. Depending on your specific situation, you should choose between:
- A localized website: a complete local version of a site adjusted in terms of language, local business practice, currency, product selection, etc.
- An international website: aiming at a global market, extending its services and communication to other parts of the world.
More info elsewhere:
- “E-Commerce User Experience”, book by J. Nielsen, R. Molich, C. Snyder and S. Farrell
- International web usability on www.useit.com
- Language selector design pattern on www.welie.com
