LOCALIZATION OVERVIEW
Localization is to adapt a product or service to another particular language, culture and desired local “look-and-feel.”
Localization is also known as “l10n” in short, where 10 is the number of letters between ‘l’ and ‘n’.
Localization is often deemed only as a synonym for translation. But in reality, it is a far more complex issue. In addition to language translation, it can entail customization related to:
- Numeric, date and time formats
- Use of currency
- Keyboard usage
- Collation and sorting
- Symbols, icons and colors
- Text and graphics containing references to objects, actions or ideas which, in a given culture, may be subject to misinterpretation or viewed as insensitive.
- Varying legal requirements
- and many more things.
Localization could even necessitate a comprehensive rethinking of logic, visual design, or presentation if the way of doing business or the accepted paradigm for learning in a given locale differs substantially from the originating culture. It’s a way, a strategy of marketing the product to the target audience of the country.