What is the difference between Translation and Localization?

The world is shrinking with every click. With the growth of the digital world, the lines of territorial boundaries have already faded. One must think globally and act locally! To give effect to this philosophy, it is important to understand the difference between translation and localization of one’s content.

What are translation and localization?

The translation is to translate the content from one source language to a new target language which ensures that the audience of new territory, where one is expanding their business, can understand the details of goods or services offered.

However, this process is incomplete without localization, which ensures that the content is translated into the culture of targeted audience.

Above all this whole process has various key milestones like analysis of host content (which may include a website, software, blogs, social media posts, creatives, etc.), preparation stage, translation and editing of content in the new language, error-removals, review, delivery in the agreed format and smooth delivery of new content. This process also involves ensuring adherence to the specific requirements of the target country or region.

Why does one need translation and localization?

Do you have a live website in a single language — say, only in English? Are you looking to expand your reader base in German or Arabic or Japanese language? Do you wish to expand your business in non-English speaking countries forex Germany or UAE or Japan? Are you aware of the cultural differences between your current audience and the target audience? Do you wish to translate your entire available documents to a new language?

It is possible to resolve these issues not just with translation, but also with the help of localization. If one is able to find a good translation service provider, who can ensure that the content after translation is appropriate for the new reader base or to those non-English speaking countries or apt for the culture of new target audience, then, with this localization service, one can discover the holistic solutions to the aforementioned issues or any similar situations.

How important is localization?

Even after the translation in the targeted language, the content may not be suitable for the culture of the target audience. Forex a common phrases from one language someone cannot aptly translate into another Language, what may appear as popular expressions in one territory may not be appropriate in other regions. Forex what is ordinary for people in North America, may not appeal to the consumers of South-East Asia.

Further, other changes like special symbols like umlauts in German, designs and even currency, should be modified by the usage and beliefs of people of this new geography which is being targeted. One can miss such requirements after the translation of content. Nevertheless, with localization of content, it becomes possible to understand and modify the content to a new target language, keeping in mind, the culture, preferences and geographies of the new markets.

What is the impact of translation and localization?

To sum up, on employing the translation service bundled with localization service, it becomes easier to gain a competitive advantage over regional businesses and competitors by communicating with one’s clients in their native language and as per their ethos. As a result, it increases the prospects of sale of one’s product or services and helps in growing one’s business by leaps and bounds. This results in building a good brand across geographical boundaries.

Using multi-lingual content can even enhance the online presence of one’s business manifold. With more content and keywords, the website gets more traffic and gain higher visibility, which leads to higher page rankings.

Do read more about the tips for good and professional document translation here

Linguidoor is one of the fastest-growing language services i.e. Document Translation, Website and Software Localization, Movie Subtitling, Voice-over, Interpretation, Content Writing, Editing & Proof Reading and many more. We fulfil the client’s requirements by outstanding services and highest professionalism. Please contact us at services@linguidoor.com. For more information, please visit www.linguidoor.com

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Rishi Anand

Rishi is a Language enthusiast and Founder and CEO of Linguidoor Translation and Localization Services based in Berlin, Germany. He is passionate about the Localization Industry, and he has a keen interest in sharing Insights, News, and development to create awareness, educate, and inspire.

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