By Muskan Batra
This article is edited from a Modlingua internship assignment submitted in July 2018. It records the author's learning at that time. Definitions have been rewritten and checked against W3C guidance. A long quotation attributed to a 2009 source has been removed because it could not be verified.
Globalization, internationalization, localization and translation (often shortened to GILT) are four connected steps that help a business reach readers in other markets. They are related, but each has a different job. My assignment explained the differences and where translators fit.
Translation
Translation is the process of conveying a message from one language into another. It takes a firm command of both the source and the target language. A word-for-word version can miss the intended message and leave the client with a text that reads awkwardly, so translators work with meaning, tone and style rather than words alone. Even a careful translation may not take a reader's cultural expectations into account. That is where localization comes in.
Localization
The two terms are often used as if they meant the same thing, but they do not. Translation moves text from one language to another. The W3C explanation of internationalization and localization describes localization as adapting a product or its content to the language, culture and other requirements of a specific market. That can include writing systems, keyboard use, fonts, dates, times and currencies, as well as images, colors and sound that suit the audience.
Internationalization
Internationalization means designing a product or document so that it can be adapted for different languages and regions without redesigning it. The W3C describes it as preparing for localization. By keeping the product as neutral as possible in both language and technical choices, a team makes later local versions easier to produce.
Globalization
Globalization, in this business sense, covers the decisions and activities an organization takes on to operate in many markets. These can include changes to management processes, new support resources and adapted marketing materials. It is the broadest of the four terms.
Why the order matters
The four steps build on each other. Without a clear decision to enter new markets, a product may not be prepared for adaptation. If it is not prepared, localization becomes harder and slower. Planning early tends to make the later steps easier.
Where translators fit
Translators are involved at every stage of GILT, and translation is the base of the process. They help make sure content reaches readers in a way that suits their language and culture, including the tone and style of the target language. A business that wants to work internationally needs this skill to connect with new customers.
Translators are not the only people involved. Technical and linguistic testers, localization service providers, marketing specialists and language service providers also play major roles in the industry.
Key takeaways
- Translation converts a message between languages; localization adapts it to a specific market.
- Internationalization prepares a product so that localization is easier.
- Globalization is the wider business decision to operate in many markets.
- Translators support all four steps and work alongside testers, marketers and language service providers.
Related reading: Modlingua's intern profile for Muskan Batra (Spanish-English) is at modlingua.com/interns/989.
