Companies wishing to adapt their content to a new language usually get confused between two options: translation and localization. While both have the same purpose to modify your brand’s information according to the culture and language of your target audience, translation and localization have two different processes.
The terms translation and localization are often used by people as an alternative to each other. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for brands to be unaware of their differences. Knowing the difference between both will benefit you in many ways. It will also help you extend the reach of your business more professionally and efficiently.
In order to expand your business, you have to add a local flavor to your brand message. But to do that first you need to know actual localization vs translation. This way you can decide which one will profit you the most. So, let’s clear up all the mess around translation and localization.
Key Differences Between Translation and Localization
1. Regional Specificity & Challenge
✓ Localization:
Localization helps to adapt the online content as per the regional preferences. It polishes your message to make it appropriate for functional, cultural, and linguistic needs. Starting from clothing, and colors to symbols, everything plays an important role in localization.
For example, when you are localizing the color of your content, you can’t pick a color that is forbidden at your target location as it will offend many.
Challenge: The major challenge of the Localization process: Adapting to the culture and tradition of multiple countries, removing unethical content, and meeting the audience’s expectations.
✓ Translation:
The translation conveys the correct meaning as the original text in another language. It gives more importance to the language and conveys the message without influencing the original meaning.
Challenge: The major challenge of the productive document translation process: Clarity, Sentence formation, Maintaining the same meaning and Tone, Idioms, and expressions.
2. Appealing Level & Preferences
✓ Localization:
Localization prepares your website to make it more appealing to audiences from different locations. It helps you change the smallest details of your brand content that improves the usability of your website.
Besides converting your text from one language to another, it also does many other changes for a better user experience:
a) Colors – They can have a specific meaning according to the location you are targeting. In some regions, red would not be a good sign whereas in other places it would be a symbol of love. Therefore, do your homework before targeting a new audience.
b) Layout – According to the chosen language, the layouts can differ. Some languages need more space than others. You need to look at which layout, the text will fit properly.
c) Visuals – Your visuals also need to be adapted as per your target audience’s culture. Moms wearing western outfits will not impress a Chinese audience.
Preferences: It is most preferred by Global businesses to meet cultural, functional, and languages differences of Target audiences. The main focus of high grade localization is to generate quality user experiences and Organize a brand in multiple countries.
✓ Translation:
Translation plays a very important role in making your content easily understandable for the target audience. It only changes the words but not the design, layout, or anything else to make it fully appropriate for the region you want to target.
Preferences: It is most preferred by small-medium enterprises, bloggers, researchers, and writers- when you have to develop copies of original content in multiple languages such as manuals.
3. Subject It Appropriate For& What they Ensures:
✓ Localization:
Localization is generally used for marketing and website content. When you want to customize your website according to the culture and region of your customer, you should go for relevant website localization. It can be used for training or web content.
What it Ensures?
Localization has to be done with respect to business objectives and Target culture. It helps in conveying the same phrases rather than words. For example- In China saying “ Like, Father Like Son” would be like “ Tigers do not breed Dogs”
✓ Translation:
Translation is mainly done for technical subjects. It works for subjects like science, medicine, research, law, and finance. If you want to standardize your online translation, you can choose translation.
What it Ensures?
The translation has to be done by not jeopardizing the original context. It helps in conveying the exact meaning of an article, blog, documents, etc. For ex- FAQs or any manuals could be well translated into multiple languages. This might have shown you the real benefits of investing in document translation.
Which Is Best For You?
If you have to develop exact copies of training manuals, reports, brochures, contracts, safety guides, website content, or any other documents where culture plays no role but rather creates awareness then the translation is for you.
It is very useful when you have to take an idea to a global level and develop a cultural appeal. It helps in avoiding offensive and embarrassing situations. If you have a product to market on an international platform then localization is for you.
Conclusion:
Today businesses have ample opportunities to reach mass audiences but It’s unfortunate to see that language problem persist. To bypass the problem of language differences companies take the help of localization and translation. Though both of these serve the common purpose of bridging the communication gap in many cases they both have tremendous differences. One must choose these services carefully as per their requirements. If you want expert assistance, choose Tridindia.
If you want expert assistance, choose Tridindia. We have a team of experienced and skilled translation and localization experts who can satisfy your expansion needs. To know more about our services call us at +91-8527599523 or send a quick quote
Never miss a story..!!
Grab the Latest Translation and language News, Tips, Updates & Trends..!!
[email-subscribers namefield=”NO” group=”Public”]
See Our Knowledge Center