Federal Multilingual Websites Committee (FMWC)
About the Group
The Federal Multilingual Websites Committee (FMWC) is a group of federal, state and local web managers who are working to expand and improve web content in languages other than English. The group meets every several months and maintains an active listserv. The group’s primary purpose is to meet the growing demand for government information and services in other languages and to share ideas, challenges, and best practices for managing multilingual content and websites.
The group works to support Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for People with Limited English Proficiency.”
The Federal Web Managers Council has sponsored the committee since April 2005.
How to Join
To join the group, or for more information, e-mail Leilani Martinez, Bilingual Web Content Manager, GobiernoUSA.gov.
We Need Volunteers!
The Multilingual Committee consists of 3 sub-committees that work on specific areas. If you're interested in being part of one of these committees, contact Leilani Martinez.
The 3 sub-committees are:
I. Multilingual Websites 101 – Getting Started, Standards, Guidelines, Research and Mandates
This group will work on developing templates as well as compiling research data, mandates, and other materials, to help web managers get started. The group will also work to develop guidelines to answer basic questions such as:
- Where to start?
- How to build a website in another language?
- How to build the business case?
- How to get buy-in from upper management and other stakeholders?
II. Translation/Adaptation/Localization of Content
This group will focus on developing a government-wide multilingual style guide focusing on various languages (for example, a style guide for web managers working on Spanish-language websites). In addition, the group will lead the development of a government-wide taxonomy/glossary (for example, a Spanish-language government glossary). Also, the group will work on creating general guidelines for the acquisition and management of translation work and contracts.
III. Marketing, Outreach, Education, Training
This group will compile and document best practice examples across government to help answer some of these questions:
- What are others doing to market their multilingual websites (i.e., lessons learned)? What works? What doesn’t?
- Multilingual websites marketing strategies
- Metrics associated with successful website marketing
- Methods to communicate success
In conjuntion with the Executive Committee of the FMWC, members of this sub-committee will also research outreach opportunities such as participating in training sessions, workshops, and other events.
Page Updated or Reviewed: March 15, 2007
