How to Add Language Translator on Website with Divi and WPML

November 5, 2020
By Cozmot

What is WPML WPML, or WordPress Multilingual, is a premium plugin that lets you create multiple versions of the same content with each version being a different language. It then automatically delivers the version with the correct language for each reader. The website, as well as the individual posts, also include language links so the reader can choose the language they want. WPML was already a powerful translation platform, but it now has the Advanced Translation Editor which will perform translations automatically.

Setting up WPML

First, purchase the version of the WPML plugin that works best for your needs. Multilingual CMS and Multilingual Agency support page builders. Download and install all of the required plugins. Go through the settings, setting up your site language, translation languages, menu switcher locations for the menu, footer, and widgets, links to translation of posts, etc. Each of these settings can be edited later. Come back to this settings screen for even more settings.

Additional Required Plugins

To easily translate Divi, you’ll need two additional WPML addons:
  • Translation Management – creates an interface so you can interact with translators and translation services.
  • String Translation – translates strings such as tagline, widgets, etc.
Click to install each addon. String Translation needs no setup, but you’ll need to setup Translation Management.

Setting up Translation Management

Go to WPML > Translation Management in the dashboard menu. Here, you’ll choose who will be the translation manager. This can be a new user, current user, or you. Choose the translation method. Use your own translators or see the available services. This shows a list of services with a description, rating, and a button to activate them. It also includes a couple of tabs for other translation services and add-ons for the translation management system. If you don’t use a translation service you can add your local translators. Choose your translation editor. I recommend selecting the Advanced Translation Editor because it has automatic translation options. Review the summary and click Done. The Translation Management screen will now provide a list of items to translation. You can also adjust roles, services, and translation jobs using the tabs.

Performing a Translation from the WordPress Editor

You’ll see the translation options in the sidebar of the post editor. This is the Classic Editor. To translate the post, click the + next to the language you want to translate it into. It shows the languages you chose during setup. You can also duplicate the post if you want. It’s in the same location if you’re using Gutenberg.

The Advanced Translation Editor

Selecting a language takes you away from your website to the Advanced Translation Editor. Click the light blue button close to the center of the header labeled Translate Automatically. Select whether to keep the sentences as incomplete so you can review them yourself, or to mark them as complete without reviewing them. Click Translate. Once the translation is complete, you’ll see the translated text in the center field. The content is broken into sentences so you can see and edit them independently. Click on any text you want to edit and it will show in the editor in the right. Here, you can copy and paste in the original text, select to perform a machine translation, open a glossary, use spell-check save as draft, and save and complete. Clicking the green check marks that section of text as complete, highlights errors, and loads the next section. Approved each translation and click Finish in the bottom right corner. Next, it shows a preview of the text in a visual view and in HTML view. Clicking Complete in the bottom right will declare the work as done and take you back to your post editor where you can make other translation choices. The language you chose will no longer be available in the list for this post. Under the list is the word Translation and a link labeled ‘show’. Clicking the link displays the translations you’ve translated this post into with an edit button. If an update is available it will show a circle or arrows. Clicking opens the Advanced Translation Editor where the translations for you to approve will be highlighted in yellow. I returned and edited the phrase ‘Bed & Breakfast’ to ‘Bed and Breakfast’ so it would translate. If you update the page but don’t update the translation, the original will still show in the languages that you haven’t updated.]]>

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