Translation and localization services

According to Wikipedia, “translation is the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language (the ‘source text’) and the production, in another language, of an equivalent text (the ‘target text,’ or ‘translation’) that communicates the same message.” This definition of translation coincides with that of ASTM F 2575, which defines the translation process as “the creation of a written target text based on a source text in such a way that the content and in many cases, the form of the two texts, can be considered to be equivalent.”

Because cultural and linguistic conventions are so different in Spanish and English, translation (as defined above) is rarely the best strategy for communicating with a foreign audience.

Localization is much broader than translation.

In localization, we adapt content to reflect local cultural sensitivities and linguistic conventions. This typically involves using a source document written in one language to create a document in a second language to communicate a message that is appropriate for a given audience. According to the ASTM translation standard, “The goal of localization is to produce a translation that reads as if it had been authored in the target language by a native speaker immersed in the target locale.”

If you need to communicate effectively in a second language, you probably need to localize your source documents (as opposed to simply translating them).

AA Nuncio can localize web sites, electronic documents and Visual Basic code. We do not provide usability or other QA testing at this time.