PROFESSIONAL LOCALIZATION SERVICE | CONTENT TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION
These days, there is a growing demand for localization services. They are essential for businesses and markets looking to expand on a global scale. This means that it is important to take into account the needs and preferences of the client during the localization process.
At Translinguo, we work with translators who specialize in the field of localization. We currently offer videogame localization and website localization services, among others.
What is a localization service?
Localization is the process of adapting a product or service to a specific market’s culture, language, and customs. That is why we say that our localization service goes above and beyond translation. It also takes into account the cultural nuances of the target countries.
Since the most common language in computer software is English, it is often localized into other languages. The most common are Italian, Spanish, French, and German.
Benefits of a localization service for companies
When localization is needed, companies should hire a specialized agency to provide these services. A quality localization service can help any company to achieve profitable growth.
We work with highly qualified native translators with ample experience in their respective fields. This ensures that your content is accurately localized and prevents mistakes caused by a lack of cultural awareness.
These agencies employ a wide range of professionals, each of whom is assigned to a specific phase of the project. What’s more, their stringent quality control measures, ensure they deliver a consistently outstanding service.
How does a localization service work?
Localization is a process of adaptation to a specific target market. The product or service is adapted to suit the country, its customs, and other requirements. This means that the aim of the localizer is to adapt a product or service to another market while maintaining the same intention and meaning.
A great example is the Braniff Airlines’ tagline “Fly in Leather”, which was translated into Spanish as “Vuela en Cuero”, literally meaning “Fly Naked”. This serves to demonstrate that the localizer must not only be familiar with the language, but also with the target culture.
Differences between localization and translation
Translation is defined as the replacement of textual material in one language by equivalent textual material in another. Localization, on the other hand, is a lengthy process of translation and cultural adaptation. In other words, it takes into account cross-cultural differences.
In short, we can say that translation is a purely linguistic process, unlike localization. The latter involves both linguistic and cultural adaptation to communicate the same intent as the source material.
What elements can be localized?
Localization services include personalized customer support. When you localize a product or service into your native language, customer satisfaction and loyalty are guaranteed.
The elements that can be localized can be split into two groups, physical and audiovisual materials. These include printed material, websites, videogames, and software.
Types of content that can be localized
As explained above, localizable content can be subdivided into:
- Videogame localization. This encompasses the localization of printed material such as cover art and documentation. It also includes the localization of subtitles, dubbing, graphic files, menus, and dialogue boxes.
- Signage localization, including documents, brochures, and billboards.
- Website localization, including URLs, meta descriptions, SEO, or date and time formats.
- Software localization. Some examples include the localization of operating systems, chat and editing software, or the product packaging itself.
