Embracing Global Diversity : Add a Custom Languages and Cultures in Sitecore

              In today’s digital age, the internet has erased geographical boundaries, making websites accessible to a global audience. To cater to this diverse user base, it’s crucial to provide content that resonates with them culturally and linguistically. This is where the power of Sitecore and the .NET framework comes into play, allowing developers to register custom languages and cultural settings seamlessly.

• Sitecore comes with some of the predefined languages to setup in our Sitecore CMS and use them by creating the language under Sitecore/system/Languages.
• If we want to setup the language that is not present in the Sitecore predefined language but the language present in our windows then we can try adding the entry in the  LanguageDefinitions.config
• If the language is not present anywhere and wanted to create a new custom language then follow below steps to configure the custom language along with culture.

Steps to Add a Custom Language in the Registry

• Add a custom language by combining an ISO language code with any country/region code or you can create it combination of your own choice as there is no specific restriction on this.
  
• I have added the code in the repository, please download and follow the instructions mentioned in the readme file. Here is the link for my Git Repository for the Sitecore Custom Language Registry
• Need to run this tool in each server in higher environments because this tool will add the registry entry in the server, Hence it need to run in all the servers of your environment.
• Once it is successful, then you can add the language entry in the  \App_Config\LanguageDefinitions.config
• Add the language using the specified format, ensuring that the language definition corresponds with the custom culture settings of .NET.
  
• Now in the Sitecore content editor, go to /sitecore/System/Languages and then create new language item.
• While Creating new language, then select the language that was added in the config and it should appear in the drop down for the selection.
• Fill all the required fields in the language item and the save the language.

These steps will help to add the custom language for all the items.

Conclusion

        Integrating custom languages and cultures into your Sitecore and .NET applications is a testament to your commitment to inclusivity and global reach. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your website not only speaks your audience’s language but also respects their cultural nuances, providing a truly localized experience.

Happy Sitecoring 😀😀😀