Original Language

Background
When a new repository object, such as a program, class, or database table in ABAP Dictionary, is
created, its original language must be specified. This is specified implicitly as part of the current
logon language. All translatable texts created as part of a development object in a development
project (including descriptive short texts and long texts, the text elements of a program, and the
documentation of data types or interfaces) are assigned the specified original language. The texts
are created in other languages in a translation process (triggered by development) from the
original language into the target languages.
Once specified, there is currently no technical support for the replacement of an original
language by another language across an entire project.
Rule
Defining the Original Language at Project Level
Before implementation, consider carefully which original language you want to use for for your
repository objects at project level. Developers may only create their development objects in the
original language defined for this project (or occasionally subproject).
Details
Proceed as follows when defining the original language:

If all development groups involved in a project share a native language, then define this
language as the original language of all development objects (this is known as
monolingual development).

If the development groups are multilingual,

then the original language of all development objects is either a language understood by
all developers involved (usually English, also called monolingual development)

or the original language of development objects in those parts of the project where the
main developers share a native language is used (multilingual development).

Monolingual development groups are a best-case scenario, but are not always possible
nowadays. The two possible scenarios for multilingual development groups, either monolingual
or multilingual development, meet two different and contradictory requirements:

When you log on to a system in a language other than the original language, there is no
effective way of working with development objects (either new or being developed) until
a translation of the relevant texts has been created in the appropriate target language.
Translation usually takes place in a follow-on translation system and has to be transported
back to the development system. This means that an efficient development process is
only possible if a single original language is defined at the beginning for the entire
project, particularly in international development groups (often working in more than one
location). All people involved in the development and validation process can then use the
product, even if only for test purposes. If monolingual development is implemented in
multilingual development groups, therefore, some (if not all) developers in a project need
to create texts in a language other than their native language.

There are usually no tools or processes available for linguistic and stylistic checks on UI
texts and documentation written by developers in a language other than their native
language. Ideally, developers working on user dialogs and documentation should create
texts in their native language and these texts should then be translated by trained
translators into their own native language, using predefined terminology.

This second point is the reason why English is not required to be the one and only original
language for all development projects, and why monolingual development groups should be free
to work in their native language, with follow-on translation if required.
If a development group is multilingual, the original language of each development object must
be decided case by case. Generally, the first point wins, since international development teams
require monolingual development to be able to use their development resources most effectively
for a particular project. In some cases, for example where subprojects require large volumes of
text to be created, it could be best to define the native language of the developers as the original
language. This is particularly relevant in SAP's in-house development teams, where many
German-speaking developers continue to work.
In multilingual projects, it is best develop associated business functions in a single language (at
least at package level). Table contents should also be created in a single language.
Note
The original language is defined as the logon language when a repository object is created, which
is why the logon language is used intentionally for creating and editing repository objects.
Note
Regardless of whether a development project is monolingual or multilingual, consistent
terminology must be defined for all texts created in the project and used across the board. In
multilingual development projects, the translation of the terminology into the relevant languages
should be completed before development start if possible, so that the terms can be used by the
developers. The existing standards for UI texts and documents must also be followed.