A successful recipe for localization: a case of GIMP (GNU image manipulation program)
Journal of Indian Business Research
ISSN: 1755-4195
Article publication date: 13 December 2022
Issue publication date: 26 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Free Open Source Softwares (FOSS) witnessed the development of many very good alternatives to proprietary softwares. These free softwares can be localized in several local languages. This paper aims to illustrate a very interesting empirical investigation on FOSS. Several significant benefits of localization are described in introduction and subsequent sections.
Design/methodology/approach
Although the localization process is standard and well documented for most of the FOSS, it is a more complex task as it involves coordination among developers, linguists and domain experts. Hence, a very few open source softwares are successfully localized in Indian languages. In this paper, the authors present an approach that they have used for GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) software Marathikaran (localization in Marathi language) project of by Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha of Maharashtra Government (RMVS), India.
Findings
This localization project has been described by RMVS as a pilot project that would guide such similar localizations in many other Indian languages for other popular open source softwares.
Social implications
The localization work overcomes the general misconception that regional languages are good only for communication (Boli Bhasha) but cannot be used for dissemination of knowledge (Gyan Bhasha). This work is notably contributing to language preservation, language revitalization and Digital India Initiative.
Originality/value
This work is the pioneering work in this domain for Marathi language with respect to GIMP. The authors presented systematic steps used to localize the GIMP software in Marathi language (from 2% to 100%).
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is the part of MOU between Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhary North Maharashtra University and Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha, Mumbai. The financial assistance is provided by Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha, Mumbai. Manish Ratnakar Joshi is National Award winner for Outstanding work in Science and Technology Communication for the year 2018 by DST, India. Authors are thankful to review panel of CERE, IIM, Indore for giving useful remarks. This paper has been awarded as one of the BEST PAPER during 12th Conference on Excellence in Research and Education, CERE-2022, IIM, Indore.
Citation
Shirude, S.B. and Joshi, M.R. (2023), "A successful recipe for localization: a case of GIMP (GNU image manipulation program)", Journal of Indian Business Research, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 227-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIBR-07-2022-0177
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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