WHAT IS WHAT? INTERNATIONALISATION (I18N). LOCALISATION (L10N). GLOBALISATION (G11N). LOCALISABILITY (L12Y)

In today’s era of globalisation and the internet, it has become increasingly easy to expand ideas beyond one’s country of origin. However, ensuring that your product or service descriptions resonate with clients from diverse nations and cultures can be a challenge. The acquisition of global customers or partners is highly dependent on the accurate translation of your website, which serves as a direct representation of your company’s portfolio and functions as your business card to the international market.

Similar to the business world, the translation industry recognises that every obstacle presents an opportunity for a corresponding solution. To avoid any ambiguity in the translation process and get the best solution for your specific needs, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with fundamental terminologies such as internationalisation (i18n), localisation (I10n), globalisation (g11n), and localisability (I12y).

WHAT IS INTERNATIONALISATION (I18N)?

Internationalisation is the process of creating, developing, or modifying content to make it easily adaptable or localisable for diverse users of different cultural, linguistic, or regional backgrounds. Essentially, the goal of internationalisation is to create content that is universally accessible and can be customised to meet the needs of different target audiences.

For example, internationalising website content involves implementing various strategies such as adapting user interface elements (like menu bars) for easy translation, ensuring that icons and visual elements are culturally appropriate, making static texts customisable, and configuring date and time formatting options to align with the user’s geographic location.

To put it simply, internationalisation aims to design content in such a way that it is adaptable to various cultural, linguistic, and regional contexts while ensuring that the original meaning and intent are not lost in translation.

WHAT IS LOCALISATION (I10N)?

Localisation is the process of adapting already internationalised content to fit the specific language, cultural, and regional requirements of a target market. This involves translating the text and supplementing the content with location-specific components, such as images, videos, and other cultural references. The main purpose of localisation is to ensure that the content is culturally appropriate and accurately conveys the intended message to the target audience. Essentially, localisation enables a company to communicate with its target audience using phrases, idioms, and expressions that are naturally used within their culture but may not be easily recognised outside of it.

An example of localisation would involve translating the website of a foreign manufacturer into Latvian or translating the content of a Latvian e-commerce website into English. In addition to translating text, localisation may also entail adapting visual elements and multimedia content, such as audio clips, to fit the cultural and linguistic norms of the target audience.

WHAT IS GLOBALISATION (G11N)?

Globalisation is a complex process that goes beyond internationalisation and localisation. It involves adapting content to multiple target audiences simultaneously, such as translating a website into several languages. Globalisation is particularly relevant for large international companies which may require dozens of website versions. A prime example of globalisation is the translation of a Latvian manufacturer’s website into German, English, Spanish, French, and Italian. It’s worth noting that globalisation and localisation often go hand in hand. For instance, a company may aim to create websites in 30 languages (globalisation), with 10 of them being customised for specific regions (localisation).

WHAT IS LOCALISABILITY (I12Y)?

Localisability refers to the set of characteristics present in content that makes it suitable for effective localisation. A localisability test is typically conducted to identify potential problem areas in the source material that could cause issues during the localisation process. The goal of this test is to ensure that the content, including its text, images, layouts, and other components, is fully prepared for localisation.

HOW CAN SKRIVANEK HELP?

Are you looking to create a website that speaks the language of your international customers and partners? Look no further than Skrivanek’s team of native speakers from around the world. Our experts can help ensure that your website not only accurately conveys your message but is also engaging and compelling for your target audience in any country. Our range of services includes website translation, as well as audio and video localisation, software localisation, digital marketing content localisation, and Google Ads and SEO translations. Let us help you tailor your message to the specific needs and nuances of local markets. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our native speakers!

WEBSITE TRANSLATION

Translating websites has never been easier! Our specialists will provide optimal translation and localisation solutions to make sure your website suits the needs and local characteristics of your region or market.

LOCALISATION OF E-LEARNING CONTENT AND SOLUTIONS

People around the world increasingly choose to acquire new skills and knowledge online; therefore, we recommend you not to hesitate with the localisation of your learning content or e-solution in at least some of the most popular languages in the world or in your region.

GOOGLE ADS UN SEO TULKOJUMI

Making your website available in several languages will significantly improve its competitive advantage. Our specialists will localise your website according to the latest SEO principles to make it appear as high as possible in organic searches, as well as adapt keywords for Google Ads advertising to make sure your potential clients can easily find you.