Localisation

Localisation is more than just high-quality translation of text in IT products such as software, video games, websites, user interfaces, and equipment configurations. In a broader sense, it involves adapting a company’s products, processes, and strategies to the specific conditions of target markets, where the language, sociocultural norms, and historical traditions may differ significantly from those in the original country. At the translation level, localisation often includes modifying names, graphic elements, colour schemes, symbols, currencies, number formats, dates, and addresses. It may also involve adjustments such as hyphenation, abridgement, or expansion of text components to better convey the meaning of the source material and meet the client’s goals. Localisation is always tailored to the country or region where the final products and related content will be marketed.

Localisation is closely linked to the concepts of internationalisation and globalisation. Internationalisation refers to designing products and processes from the outset so they can be easily adapted during localisation to fit the linguistic and cultural features of the target country or region. Globalisation takes this further, it involves the development of products and processes with the global market in mind, encompassing both internationalisation and localisation.

This complex work requires experienced translation and localisation professionals who, beyond delivering accurate translations and cultural adaptations, provide clients with valuable linguistic and regional expertise. In addition to translators, editors, and proofreaders, we engage linguistic testers and programmers when necessary.