Knowledge · Guide
Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao terms belong in the search test
Regional interface wording should lead to the same business evidence when the meaning is the same.
Use the company’s own vocabulary
Employees may search for software using 軟件 or 軟體 and describe a project as 項目 or 專案. Build a reviewed vocabulary map from actual questions, not a stereotype about every speaker in a region. Record the intended business concept and any exceptions. A regional language selector should affect presentation, while access rules and authoritative policy remain unchanged unless the company deliberately defines a different scope.
Test equivalent and non-equivalent terms
For a hypothetical multilingual operations team, pair regional variations that should find the same procedure. Also include terms that look similar but differ in the company’s terminology. A request, a purchase order, and an invoice are not interchangeable merely because a translation seems convenient. Ask operational owners to approve the map. This is a small editorial asset with lasting value beyond the AI assistant.
Workflow at a glance
Keep identifiers stable
Regional copy should not change document IDs, statuses, or API values. Translate labels while preserving the underlying record identity. Include regression cases that switch region mid-session and retain the selected request, form values, and authorization context. A user changing from Hong Kong to Taiwan wording should not accidentally start a different workflow or lose an unfinished explanation. Test accessibility labels as well as visible headings.
Review vocabulary as services change
When a new client group introduces different terms, add a test before adding a synonym. Too many broad synonyms can make search less precise. Monitor unanswered questions by wording and invite staff to report a term without exposing confidential documents. The linked multilingual and hybrid-search guidance provides implementation background; a reviewed regional lexicon and local acceptance tests remain the organization’s responsibility.
A vocabulary ownership rule
Give each approved regional term an example sentence and an owner. Keep changes small enough to review. If two terms differ in a customer’s contract, preserve the distinction even when a general dictionary considers them synonyms. Business meaning comes before linguistic convenience.
Sources and further reading
- Create an index for multiple languages in Azure AI SearchCreate an index for multiple languages in Azure AI SearchMicrosoft · Documentation ·
- Hybrid search using vectors and full-text searchHybrid search using vectors and full-text searchMicrosoft · Documentation ·
Editorial approach
AI-assisted original writing, checked against linked public sources. Practical recommendations and illustrative scenarios are editorial analysis, not reported client results. Source dates and product details may differ from this collection’s preparation date.