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Language variants

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  • Jan Cerman
    8 minutes
    Languages/Localization
    Once you set up localization, you can translate content items to other languages. See how to add project languages for more details if you haven’t set up your project languages.

    Language variants

    Content items can have multiple language variants, with each content item identified by its title and codename. Content items don’t contain any content themselves. They are wrappers for language variants, even in projects with just one language. All language variants of a single content item share the following properties:
    • Content item title – can only be changed in the default language variant
    • Non-localizable elements – can only be changed in the default language variant
    Other properties such as workflow information (this includes workflow, the current workflow step, assigned contributors, and due date), comments, and versions are saved for each language variant separately.

    Translate a content item

    Let’s see how you can translate a content item from English (United States) to English (United Kingdom). Because these two languages are similar, you can start by copying the existing content over from the original version to save time.  To create a new language variant of an existing content item:
    1. In  Content & assets, choose the English (US) language using the language switcher.
    2. Open a content item.
    3. Change the language variant to English (UK) using the language switcher.
    4. Click  More actions.
    5. Choose Copy from language.
    6. Choose English (US) (Default).
    You can also click the Copy from language button in the banner at the top of the screen. You’ll see this banner only once, right after creating the new variant.
    Now, continue localizing your content. With the original texts in place, you can adjust the words to match the other variant of English.

    View localizations of linked content

    With fallbacks for linked content, you can view available localizations of your linked items whenever you’re working on content items.

    Delete language variants

    You can only delete variants that aren't published. To delete one or more translated content items:
    1. In Content & assets, choose a language variant using the language switcher in the upper right of the screen.
    2. Select content items using the checkboxes on the left.
    3. Click  More actions.
    4. Choose Delete.
    5. In the confirmation popup, click Delete language variants.
    The language variants of the selected items are now deleted. If these content items have no content in other language variants, the entire items are deleted. After you delete a translated language variant, this item's status in the language becomes Not translated.

    Switch languages in the content list

    Once you configure languages, you can choose a language variant for your content in the content list or when editing a content item. To switch to a different language in the content list, click the language switcher in the top-right corner and select a language.

    Switch languages while editing content

    To change the language variant of the content item you are currently editing, use the language switcher in the top right.
    Showing how to copy content from another language.
    Deleting multiple items in the content list.
    Switching to a different language in the content list.
    Language switcher in a content item.
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    When working with linked items, use Fallbacks to view a summary of available localizations for that linked item.
    • Language variants
    • Languages
    Opening untranslated itemsWhen you open an untranslated content item, Kontent.ai automatically creates a new draft of the content item with empty elements, removing its "Not translated" status.
    If you switch to a language variant in which the content item doesn't exist yet, Kontent.ai automatically creates an empty draft in the selected language.
  • Language variants
  • Translate a content item
  • View localizations of linked content
  • Delete language variants
  • Switch languages in the content list
  • Switch languages while editing content