Multilingual Systems software

We have used the phrase "Multilingual Systems" to refer to computer programs which permit user interaction with the computer in one or more languages, where the language can be selected dynamically, either at the time of invocation of the program or subsequently during its execution. Typically, a Multilingual System will permit users to interact with computers in their own mother tongue. Such a system will have far reaching consequences in our country (India) where English is not spoken or understood by the majority of the people living in areas away from urban environments. Over the years, the bulk of software development in India has been carried out primarily through the English language. Knowledge of English is essential for the development of Information Systems since virtually all development packages rely on English specific input. Current software development tools can also be used to develop an application that incorporates little or no English in its user interface. Hence Multilingual Systems are not only feasible at the level of an application program but can also present a truly localized environment for a user desiring to interact with computers in regional languages. This approach has the added advantage of providing uniformity across computer systems where, regardless of the machine (PC, MAC, Workstation etc.) the user will see the same interface.

We have used the phrase "Multilingual Systems" to refer to computer programs which permit user interaction with the computer