Toward native language software for information management

Abstract

The paper examines general technical issues involved in placing the latest computer systems, operable by end users in a largely programmer-free environment, at the disposal of non-English-speaking users. Native-language software is defined as programs allowing such users to communicate with computers in their native language, and to process information in native languages. Approaches to augmenting existing off-the-shelf software for use in native-language environments are overviewed, with attention to user command language, language of communication from system to user, and the language of the data.