We generally use this one term for two entirely different activities. The first is language localization, which involves reviewing texts to ensure they meet the language and cultural requirements of a specific country or community. In this context, we either translate or carry out editing works using the specific dialect and terms of a given region—such as Mexican or Argentine Spanish.
It’s also common, particularly in technical fields, that certain terms are used with specific meanings in a particular context, which may not be typical in general usage or other environments. In such cases, our company collaborates with internal experts to ensure that the client receives documents of the expected quality
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On the other hand, localization can also refer to adapting the language usage of computer programs and platforms to the target language.
This is particularly important for software used in multiple languages, where every aspect must be consistent while ensuring that terms and texts are clear to native users —consider, for instance, the different language versions of Office programs.
In such cases, factors like word or text length limitations, design, and integration are important considerations.
Moreover, adapting abbreviations for display screens can be challenging because of differences in character counts across languages, which may affect readability and interpretation—such as on onboard displays—and because each language may have different ways of forming abbreviations.
Our company handles both types of localization. Since most of our translators are native speakers who live in their respective countries, language localization is always ensured. Additionally, we have successfully completed numerous software localization projects during our company’s more than two decades of operation, to the satisfaction of our clients.