Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system will have the U.K. version of English as a display language option, to address customers in that country, and some other countries like South Africa, India, Ireland, and Australia that use the version of the language.
Windows 8, the next version of the company's OS, will also have 13 new language interface packs (LIPs) that install on top of a standalone Windows display language, Ian Hamilton, a program manager in Microsoft's Windows International Team said in a blog post on Tuesday. The packs contain localized user interface elements for the most commonly used Windows features.
Users will also have the option to install multiple display languages and switch between them, as for example between U.S. English and Spanish, a feature relevant in the U.S., Hamilton said.
Offering the operating system in local languages will help because in many countries English is at best a second language, said Vishal Tripathi, a principal research analyst at Gartner. But support for local languages will have to go beyond the display of the operating system to supporting these languages in applications as well, he added.
Microsoft has introduced its Internet Explorer and Office suite in a number of languages, but it has to work with third-party applications providers to also offer these languages, Tripathi added.
The company will be adding LIPs for languages used in emerging markets that are experiencing strong growth in PC usage, and for languages preferred by groups of customers in developed markets, such as Cherokee in the U.S., Scottish Gaelic in the U.K. and Valencian in Spain.
Some of the other languages added are Uyghur spoken in some parts of China, Wolof in Senegal, and Belarusian.
The company is offering English for the U.K. as a standalone language that contains all the user interface components needed for an independent versions of Windows. "Standalone languages can be used by OEMs to image a PC, or can be purchased as boxed software," Hamilton said.
The option to switch between languages will enable users to move back and forth between languages, or have different language accounts for different users.
Some PCs sold in the US have previously had English and Spanish preinstalled on them. On those PCs, the user picks one language or the other, and the one not chosen is wiped off the hard drive after first run, Hamilton said. Microsoft however received feedback that customers loved having a Spanish language PC, but what they really wanted was Spanish and English, and the ability to switch between them, Hamilton said.
Microsoft already supports 95 languages in Windows 7.
John Ribeiro covers outsourcing and general technology breaking news from India for The IDG News Service. Follow John on Twitter at @Johnribeiro. John's e-mail address is john_ribeiro@idg.com
Comments
Matt Egan said: It would be awful I completely agree and Im sure it wouldnt make commercial sense for Microsoft not to make that option available but the point I made in response to a previous post was that it is optional for a US company to make a UK English version Most of the computing world speaks US English which is a different language to that we speak
Johnyboy said: Yes as the originators were Americans but it would be pretty awful if our children had to put up with their spell checkers constantly showing spelling mistakes in their school work if Original English was not available
Matt Egan said: I am Old Bert like so many others in our great nation a mongrel albeit one who is deeply proud of being British And as such Im not insecure about the fact that the language we gave the Yanks has now morphed into a patois all of its own only closely related to UK English which has evolved all on its own anyway and much more popular The point is that Microsoft isnt forced to produce a UK Windows and Im glad it does As to your other points for what its worth one has a different view of Empire when ones ancestors were subjects to it And it you are accusing me of liking America - guilty Its a fabulous country almost as good as ours
A very proud old Bert said: Correction Microsoft is to be commended forrecognising that they speak a different languageIncidentally we gave the Empire back to the people it didntdie and it is something that British people were proud of just as the Dutchand French were proud of their empiresMaccyroo It would appear that Mr Egan may be a member ofthe American fraternity
Matt Egan said: Absolutely But you accept that the original language is US English
Johnyboy said: According to your piece above some 900 million people speak Original English which is a somewhat larger proportion than speak Scottish Gaelic so I should damn well hope that our version of English continues to be included in Windows
Matt Egan said: Um Microsoft is a US company and - in case you havent noticed - the English that is used by the entire computing world is US English I dont like this but it is a fact The Empire died a long time ago and I think Microsoft is to be commended for recognising that we speak a marginally different language
Maccyroo said: Microsofts Windows 8 operating system will have the UK version of EnglishThe United Kingdom of which is England is a part IS the home of the English language you don know that There is only one proper English language and it is oursYour article makes it sound like we should be grateful to Microsoft as if its a special favour or something I know that Americans think they invented everything including English although they have corrupted a lot of the correct spellings They even think Winnie The Pooh is a yankie just because Disney bought the movie rights and they gave him a typical American make-over If you look at a Disney version against the original drawings by AA Milne you will understand what I mean Ive never recovered from that as I live near Hartfield only a twigs throw from Pooh bridge itselfPC Advisor is a UK magazine and i would expect your report to be making the point that England is the home of English rather than leaving me to point it out