Overview of essential language services: translation, localization, globalization, internationalization, interpreting and more

Localization (also referred to as l10n) is the process of adapting a product or service to a specific locale. Translation is only one of several elements in the localization process. In addition to translation, the localization process may also include:
•    Adapting design and layout to properly display translated text in the language of the locale
•    Adapting sorting functions to the alphabetical order of a specific locale
•    Changing formats for date and time, addresses, numbers, currencies, etc. for specific target locales 
•    Adapting graphics to suit the expectations and tastes of a target locale
•    Modifying content to suit the tastes and consumption habits of a target locale

The aim of localization is to give a product or service the look and feel of having been created specifically for a target market, no matter their language, cultural preferences, or location.

 

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Interpreting is the facilitation of spoken or signed language communication between users of different languages. 

In the global language industry, there are three primary modes of interpreting: consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation. In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter listens and renders the message in the target language at the same time as the speaker is speaking. (Yes, it's as hard as it sounds!) In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter speaks after the source language speaker has stopped speaking. Sight translation is the oral rendition of a written text. In all cases, the interpreter must quickly and carefully convey the meaning, tone, and intent of the original message in the target language. Interpreting requires excellent language proficiency, the ability to quickly analyze and transfer messages between languages, and adherence to professional ethics and standards of practice. Interpreting is performed face-to-face and remotely. Remote interpreting requires technological platforms to facilitate telephonic and video multilingual communication.

Interpreters are employed in a multitude of settings including courts, schools, medical facilities, social services, as well as national and international institutions. Advances in interpreting technologies are facilitating more and more virtual and remote interpretation scenarios, making interpretation achievable in new settings and scenarios.

 

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In the context of the global language industry, globalization (also referred to as g11n), refers to a broad range of engineering and business processes to prepare and launch products and services internationally. Globalization is an all-encompassing concept that includes engineering activities like internationalization and localization, but also business development activities like product management, market research, and compliance with international trade policies and laws in different countries. 

Professionals in the global language industry are most often focused on internationalization and localization, as well as the processes and tools that support these activities. They ensure that organizations around the world are prepared to carry out their missions by reaching the right audiences in the right languages and providing them with an experience that feels local to them.

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Internationalization (also referred to as i18n) is the design of software code bases and resources that allow an application to be adapted to various locales without requiring changes to the code base. Internationalization is the discipline that sits at the intersection between software engineering and localization and is also sometimes referred to as localizability. Internationalization can save significant expense, time, and headaches for businesses planning to take their products and applications to an international audience.

Internationalization is a critical business process for any company producing multilingual products. It is important to consider the various markets a product will target and make the necessary adaptations early in product design and development. Many users have experienced the frustration of non-internationalized products — forms not having the currency they expect, fields or text boxes being too large or too small for their contents ... and countless other irritations big and small. For businesses and products to succeed internationally, i18n is critical.

When done right, i18n makes subsequent localization tasks much easier, faster, and less expensive. Internationalization responsibilities rest primarily on the shoulders of development teams and software engineers, but some full-service localization providers offer i18n consulting services as well.

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