Reading
Topic summary
Translation and interpretation are among the most significant activities in the process of creating and promoting accessible and inclusive materials. They enable the exchange of ideas, foster cultural understanding, and help address the challenges that linguistic diversity brings to international communication.
However, every spoken language contains cultural references and country- or region-specific concepts that may not exist in other languages. As a result, word-for-word translations are often unable to convey the speaker’s intended message accurately.
This submodule provides learners with a short introduction to Language Localisation, a powerful process used in translation and interpretation to address linguistic and cultural differences in communication. Through this submodule, learners will become familiar with the theoretical framework of language localisation and explore its importance in creating accessible and inclusive materials that respect the needs and preferences of diverse groups.
The estimated time for completing this activity is 15 minutes.
Content
What is Language Localisation?
First, it is important to understand the notion of localisation. According to Pym (2001), localisation:
“involves taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale (country/region and language) where it will be used and sold.”
In simple terms, localisation is the process of adapting materials and products to the specific cultural, geographical, and linguistic characteristics of a particular target group. It often involves using population- or country-specific references that help transmit the intended message more effectively.
For example, imagine we are reading an English children’s book in which the main character lives and acts in London. At one point, the character says:
“I walked by the Big Ben.”
If we are asked to translate this story into French for young children in France, the reference to Big Ben might not be immediately meaningful to them. To make the story more accessible to the target audience, we might decide to situate the story in Paris instead of London, and have the character walk by the Eiffel Tower instead of Big Ben.
In this example, the core meaning and message remain the same, but adaptations are made to ensure that the story is easier for the target audience to understand and relate to.
Language localisation therefore includes all efforts aimed at making products and materials linguistically accessible to every individual within the target group (Johnstone, 2016). It focuses on strategies that convey a linguistic message as clearly and accurately as possible.
Another example can be found in idiomatic expressions. In English, the phrase:
“It’s raining cats and dogs”
is used to describe heavy rain. Translating this phrase literally into another language may confuse the audience. In Greek, for example, the same meaning is conveyed with a different expression referring to “raining chair legs.”
This shows that speakers of different languages may express the same meaning using completely different references, influenced by their cultural, historical, and geographical contexts.
Why is Language Localisation Important?
Translation plays a crucial role in today’s interconnected world. It enables efficient communication, intercultural dialogue, and the exchange of ideas between groups that speak different languages.
The European Commission also recognises the importance of translation in making resources accessible and inclusive. For this reason, extensive translation and interpretation processes are implemented within European institutions (European Commission, n.d.).
Language localisation strengthens these efforts by making translation and interpretation more inclusive and accessible regardless of linguistic, cultural, geographical, or educational background.
By applying localisation strategies, messages can be communicated more clearly and effectively to specific audiences, ensuring that the intended meaning is understood and impactful.
The benefits of applying language localisation include:
- More efficient and clearer transmission of messages and ideas
- Creation of materials that are culturally and linguistically sensitive
- Increased effectiveness and impact of educational and language learning activities
- Promotion of intercultural approaches in language learning
- Support for linguistic and cultural minorities with specific characteristics
- Facilitation of intercultural communication
Where Can Language Localisation Be Applied?
Although localisation is often associated with translation, it is actually applied in many aspects of everyday life—sometimes without us even realising it (Yuste Rodrigo, 2008).
Its applications can be found in several areas:
Education
Effective language learning approaches often integrate localisation methods and tools into educational processes. When working with students from diverse cultural, linguistic, and historical backgrounds, localisation becomes essential.
Programmes such as Erasmus+ emphasise and promote the use of localisation techniques when creating and developing educational materials and tools.
Communication and Marketing
Companies that advertise products often adapt their messages to match the linguistic and cultural preferences of their target audiences. This may involve adjusting written, spoken, or visual communication to maximise visibility, relevance, and impact.
Software, Machine Learning, and IT Development
Digital products and services are frequently localised to match the linguistic and cultural expectations of different regions. This may involve adapting visual design, interface language, cultural references, or contextual elements.
As a result, the same online service may present a different visual or contextual identity depending on the region in which it is used.
Additional Resources
The following videos are in English, but you can enable subtitles and translate them into any language.
Translation and Localization
The Difference Between Translation, Localization, and Transcreation
References
European Commission. (n.d.). Languages and translation at the European Commission.
https://translation.ec.europa.eu/languages-and-translation-european-commission_en
Johnstone, B. (2016). The Sociolinguistics of Globalization: Standardization and Localization in the Context of Change. Annual Review of Linguistics, 2, 349–365.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-linguistics-011415-040552
Pym, A. (2001). Localization and Linguistics.
https://usuaris.tinet.cat/apym/on-line/translation/loclinguistics.pdf
Yuste Rodrigo, E. (2008). Topics in Language Resources for Translation and Localisation.
https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/5015472
Target Groups
This microlearning module is intended for:
- Language teachers who work with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and want to create accessible and inclusive educational materials.
- Students who wish to expand their knowledge of language localisation and the development of accessible materials.