All the texts of a piece of software or a website may have been translated, and yet the date format may be foreign, the currency wrong and the form fields out of line with the local address structure. In that case the product has been translated but not localised. Localisation is an adaptation job that goes beyond the text.
Definition
Localisation is the adaptation of the product to the target market, and the text is only one component of it. Format, visuals and function are within the scope too. The scope is wider than translation.
How it differs from translation
Translation carries over the text, localisation adapts the product. A product may have been translated but not localised. The difference is concrete.
Format components
Date, time, number and currency formats are set according to the market. These fields are not text, but to the user they look like text. Adaptation is needed.
Address and telephone fields
Form fields must fit the local address structure. A form with a foreign structure becomes unusable. The function is adapted.
First name and surname fields
The structure of names varies between cultures, and a single pattern does not fit everywhere. The fields are designed accordingly. The adaptation is functional.
Sorting rules
Alphabetical sorting changes with the language, and lists are arranged accordingly. Wrong sorting makes things hard for the user. The rule is applied.
Text length
When the translated text gets longer, the interface layout may break. The design is built to be flexible. The limits are communicated in advance.
Visual adaptation
The text in visuals and the cultural references can be adapted. This is a separate item of work. The scope is defined.
Meanings of colours and symbols
Some colours and symbols carry different associations from market to market. This difference is assessed. The decision is taken with the client.
The legal compliance component
The mandatory information and warnings of the target market are added. This goes beyond translating the text. Compliance is checked separately.
Payment and delivery options
In commercial products, local options are offered. This is a functional adaptation. It is defined in the scope.
Character support
The characters of the target language must display correctly in the system. Missing support makes the text unreadable. A test is run.
Writing direction
In some languages the writing direction is different, and the interface layout is reversed. This is a technical adaptation. The scope grows.
Content adaptation
Examples and scenarios can be adapted to the local context. This goes beyond the limit of translation. Authority is obtained in writing.
Relationship with internationalisation
If the product has been designed in advance to be adaptable, localisation becomes easier. The two concepts complement each other. The order matters.
The test stage
The localised product is tested in the target language. Even if the text is correct, the appearance may be broken. The test is planned separately.
Defining the scope
Which components will be adapted is written in the job description. A vague scope produces a gap in expectations. The definition is made in concrete terms.
What it is confused with
Localisation is frequently thought to be a synonym of translation. Yet a product whose texts have all been translated may be unusable in the target market because its date format and form structure do not fit.