A translation is not finished when every English sentence has a French or Dutch equivalent. It is finished when the page makes sense in that language and the next step works too.
On the RDBK site, that meant treating language as part of the product rather than a separate text file delivered at the end.
We kept the intent, changed the wording
Our English voice is direct, warm and lightly playful. Reproducing it word for word can make another language sound strangely stiff. We look for a natural way to carry the same intention instead.
A heading still needs to introduce the section. A button still needs to explain its action. A small joke is optional if it does not travel well. The reader should not have to reconstruct the English sentence to understand it.
We followed the journey beyond the page
Navigation, translated URLs, form labels, errors and emails all belong to the experience. So do Rico’s suggested messages. A French suggestion should send a French message, not quietly switch the conversation to English.
Newsletter signup follows the page language too. Asking visitors to choose the same language again adds a decision they have already made.
We let the words test the layout
Dutch labels can need more room than their English counterparts. French punctuation and sentence rhythm change the balance of a heading. We check cards, buttons and mobile menus with the actual text, rather than assuming the shortest version represents every language.
The answer is not always smaller type. Sometimes the container needs to grow, the line break needs freedom or the wording needs a better edit.
We made the source editable
The content tools let the studio edit English as well as translations and exchange content through JSON. That keeps the original copy open to improvement instead of treating it as untouchable.
Every change still needs a view of the connected versions. The useful question is not only “did we translate this?” but “does this journey still feel coherent?”
For planning your own project, start with our bilingual website checklist. The small details are where language stops feeling like a setting and starts feeling like the website.
