Validating content of localization data files

The invention provides for extracting language and culture information from a POSIX™* conforming locale source file for the purpose of formatting sample data for country and language expert validation. The invention is performed on a computer system by obtaining a locale source file, in a preferred form, containing a plurality of elements having language and culture information, extracting and then using those elements and their associated values cooperatively with sample data, to generate readable text representations, thereby providing a country and language expert reviewer with textual data formatted according to the conventions embodied in the locale source file. * ISO/IEC 9945-1:1900 (IEEE Standard 1003.2-1990) Information Technology - Portable Operating System Interface ( POSIX™ ) Shell Utilities , IEEE Standards 1003.2 and 1003.2a. The invention provides representative results without requiring compilation of a locale object, thereby increasing the efficiency of validation efforts.